KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, July 28, 2025 – The Ministry of Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives (KUSKOP) has appointed 12 government Members of Parliament (MPs) as Friends of Ministry (FoM) to enhance strategic collaboration in advancing the nation’s entrepreneurship and cooperative sectors.
The appointments were formalized by Minister Datuk Ewon Benedick during a luncheon meeting at the Parliament Building here today. The event was attended by senior ministry officials and heads of agencies under KUSKOP.
Ewon expressed gratitude to the MPs for selecting KUSKOP as their strategic partner under the FoM initiative by the Government Supporters Club.
“I am confident that these appointments will expand the ministry’s support network at the grassroots level through close cooperation with the people’s representatives,” he said.
“I believe this synergy will have a significant impact in achieving the national entrepreneurship agenda, in line with the aspirations of the 13th Malaysia Plan.”
Elaborating on the ministry’s role, Ewon explained that KUSKOP is responsible for charting the direction of national entrepreneurship development, instilling entrepreneurial values and mindsets, strengthening support ecosystems, improving access to financing, and facilitating market entry both domestically and internationally.
The ministry also oversees the implementation of key policies, including the National Hawker and Petty Trader Development Policy 2024 and the National Franchise Policy 2023, as well as managing related legislation such as the Franchise Act and the Cooperatives Act.
He added that consultations on a draft for a new Cooperatives Act, aimed at replacing the existing one, are actively underway and expected to be tabled in Parliament by the end of this year.
Also present at the event were Deputy Minister Dato’ Sri R. Ramanan Ramakrishnan, Secretary-General Dato’ Sri Kharud Dzaimee Daud, deputy secretary-generals of KUSKOP, BBC Chairman Datuk Indera Mohd Shahar Abdullah, and heads of KUSKOP agencies.
The appointed MPs are:
1. Datuk Seri Panglima Gapari bin Katingan@Geoffrey Kitingan, MP for Keningau
2. Tuan Haji Azli bin Yusuf, MP for Shah Alam
3. Dato’ Verdon bin Bahanda, MP for Kudat
4. Tuan Haji Omar bin Abu Bakar, MP for Batu Pahat
5. Tuan Khoo Poay Tiong, MP for Kota Melaka
6. Tuan Chew King Chih, MP for Rasah
7. Tuan Hassan bin Abdul Karim, MP for Pasir Gudang
8. Tuan Tan Kar Hing, MP for Gopeng
9. Tuan Haji Manndzri bin Haji Nasib, MP for Tenggara
10. Tuan Edwin Anak Banta, MP for Selangau
11. Dr. Richard Rapu@Aman Anak Begri, MP for Betong
12. Datuk Ir. Shahelmey bin Yahya, MP for Putatan