November 05, 2009 20:02 PM

YAKEB Sets Up Cooperative For Athletes

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 5 (Bernama) -- National Athletes Welfare Foundation (YAKEB) today launched Koperasi Atlet Malaysia Berhad (KAMB) to provide an investment opportunity for athletes under its wing.

YAKEB patron Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor who is also the Prime Minister's wife said the setting up of KAMB was aimed at helping athletes, including athletes with disability (OKU), to venture into business.

"One of the main objective for setting up KAMB is to gain opportunities to do business that can contribute revenue that can be channeled towards the welfare of athletes in the long run.

"We hope athletes who become members and invest in the cooperative, will be able to reap good returns for their investment," she told reporters after launching KAMB at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil.

Rosmah added that KAMB's first project would be to cultivate 100 acres in Tanjung Tualang, allocated by the Perak state government, with watermelon.

"Cultivating watermelon can generate very good income and contribute about RM18 million a year to KAMB. I hope the venture will help raise the living standards of athletes and also take care of their welfare," she said.

The Prime Minister's wife who witnessed the signing a memorandum of understanding by KAMB with Iris Corporation and the Perak Agriculture Development Corporation here today, said other associations in the country should also venture into similar projects, to generate income for their associations and not depend on government funding alone.

Meanwhile, Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said his ministry would provide KAMB an initial grant of RM30,000.

"If KAMB's venture is successful, we can increase the grant from time to time," said Ismail Sabri who also urged other associations to follow YAKEB's footsteps.

-- BERNAMA

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