PUTRAJAYA, MALAYSIA February 14, 2026 – Minister of Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives, Steven Sim Chee Keong, personally distributed mandarin oranges to nearly 550 staff members of the ministry today in a festive gesture ahead of the upcoming Chinese New Year.
The minister visited every department and unit within the Ministry of Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives (KUSKOP) to hand out the oranges and greet the civil servants. He described the act as more than a celebratory tradition, emphasising that it carries deeper symbolic meaning.
“Giving mandarin oranges is not just a festive custom; it represents prayers, prosperity, and good wishes for the new year,” Steven Sim said. In Chinese culture, the fruit is closely associated with luck and wealth, as its name in Cantonese sounds similar to words meaning “good fortune” and “gold”.
The gesture reflects the ministry’s hopes that all KUSKOP staff will enjoy well-being, good health, and success in carrying out their responsibilities to the public. With the approaching Year of the Horse symbolising energy, courage, and resilience, the minister urged the team to embrace these qualities in their efforts to strengthen and empower Malaysia’s micro, small, and medium enterprises.
He expressed hope that the entire KUSKOP workforce would step into the new year with renewed vigour, progressive thinking, and unwavering commitment to building a robust national entrepreneurship ecosystem for shared prosperity.
“Hebatkan Perniagaan Malaysia!”
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