PUTRAJAYAJune 14, 2026 — Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim today attended the 10th Annual General Meeting of Koperasi Profesional Putrajaya Berhad (KOPROJAYA), where he underscored the broader role of cooperatives in fostering economic empowerment, social justice, and equitable growth beyond mere financial returns.
In his speech, Anwar described cooperatives not just as business entities focused on profits or dividends, but as vital instruments for building people’s economic strength through wider participation and fairer distribution of benefits.
“Cooperatives bring a bigger idea — building the economic strength of the people through broader participation and a more equitable sharing of benefits, compared to wealth monopolised by a handful with capital and influence,” he said.
He linked the cooperative movement to the principles of social democracy, emphasising that true democracy extends beyond political power to enabling citizens’ active involvement in the economy and enjoyment of national development outcomes.
Anwar drew historical parallels to reinforce his point. He referenced Indonesia’s Bung Hatta, who viewed cooperatives as essential for economic equality and social justice in an independent nation. He also cited India’s Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, who stressed that democracy must dismantle oppressive systems and bridge societal divides to include marginalised groups.
The Prime Minister further connected these ideals to Islamic teachings on ta’awun (mutual cooperation in goodness), which encourages collective strength to support the vulnerable.
Positioning cooperatives as key to social democracy, Anwar said they expand participation, empower citizens, and ensure growth benefits reach the widest possible segments of society rather than a select few.
He tied this vision to the MADANI framework, stressing that Malaysia’s pursuit of growth in emerging sectors such as artificial intelligence, digital transformation, and energy transition must be accompanied by fair distribution of opportunities.
“Justice does not mean giving the same thing to everyone. Justice means ensuring every citizen receives opportunities according to their respective needs and circumstances,” Anwar explained. “This is what is meant by social justice and adil wal ihsan — ensuring national progress upholds human dignity and brings welfare to all citizens.”
He also highlighted the importance of good governance in the cooperative sector, noting that strong performance depends on systematic and orderly management. Successful cooperatives, he added, should share best practices to uplift others.
The event, held in Putrajaya, was attended by cooperative members and leaders, with Anwar expressing appreciation for KOPROJAYA’s contributions. He used the occasion to reaffirm the government’s commitment to strengthening the cooperative movement as part of broader economic inclusivity efforts under the MADANI administration.
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