KOTA KINABALU: The Sabah Cheshire Home has started a proactive step by setting up the first Koperasi OKU (Cooperative for persons with disabilities) in Sabah.
Community Development and Consumer Affairs Minister Datuk Jainab Ahmad Ayid said the setting up of the cooperative would help and empower persons with disabilities (PWD) in the state.
“The cooperative will help PWDs to start their own business and also to improve the facilities of their training centres.
“The government hopes many PWDs will take the opportunity to discover the business world and participate in various workshops to empower them,” she said.
Jainab also proposed that the new cooperative should give out loans to its members to help them start a new business.
She said this in a press conference after handing over certificates to participants of the Cheshire Home pastry course organized by ATI College.
Meanwhile, the vice president of Sabah Cheshire Home, Lawrence Hee Qui Shing, said more than 80 members had registered with the cooperative.
“We are planning to set up an outlet for PWDs to sell their products in the future, but at the moment we are focusing on the pastry first,” said Hee.
The cooperative is currently using the existing premises next to Cheshire Home in Likas for the pastry course.
Pastries from the home are distributed to participating bodies for sale.
The event was held at Likas Square Apartment yesterday morning.