ANGKASA Petanque Championship Strengthens Unity, Cooperative Networks

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 5 (Bernama) -- The 2026 National Petanque Championship of the National Cooperative Movement of Malaysia (ANGKASA) is not merely a sporting competition but a platform to strengthen unity, friendship and networks among cooperatives nationwide.

Melaka State Executive Council Deputy Member for Entrepreneur Development, Cooperatives and Consumer Affairs Datuk Tuminah Kadi @ Mohd Hashim said the championship was in line with ANGKASA's role as the apex body of the country's cooperative movement in uniting cooperatives through leadership and business development.

Representing Melaka Chief Minister Datuk Seri Utama Ab Rauf Yusoh, she said petanque could instil teamwork, discipline, adherence to rules, emotional control and team spirit among participants.

“These values are fundamental to the cooperative movement, and I see this championship primarily as a platform to foster unity and friendship,” she said when officiating the 2026 ANGKASA National Petanque Championship at Dewan Puteri Qashrina Chalet in Melaka today.

Also present were ANGKASA President Datuk Seri Dr Abdul Fattah Abdullah, Deputy President Associate Prof Datuk Dr Abdul Rahman Abdul Razak Shaik, and vice-presidents Datuk Mohamad Ali Hasan, who is also chairman of the ANGKASA Petanque Championship Committee, Datuk Kamarudin Ismail, Datuk Ibrahim Abdullah and Zaharudin Alias.

Also present were Melaka Education Department director Mahfudzzah Mohamed Noor, ANGKASA Group Chief Executive Officer Datuk Abdullah Jusoh and ANGKASA Melaka chairman Zaidan Abd Hadi.

Tuminah said the Melaka government had always prioritised the development of entrepreneurship and cooperatives as part of the people's economic ecosystem.

Under the Melaka 2026 State Budget, she said the state government had continued its cooperative empowerment programme by allocating RM300,000 for the development of micro and mosque parish cooperative clusters.

“Through Budget 2026, the state government also emphasises efforts to expand the entrepreneurial ecosystem through the establishment of a One-Stop Entrepreneur Centre bringing together more than 10 agencies.

“Such an approach is important to ensure entrepreneurs and cooperatives move forward together, with sufficient access to financing and training to grow,” she said.

She said the championship also provided an important platform to strengthen ties between state cooperative movements, ANGKASA and the Melaka government, while allowing participants to share experiences, test their mental resilience and improve discipline.

Meanwhile, Abdul Fattah expressed his appreciation to the ANGKASA Melaka Committee for its commitment to making the national-level championship a success.

He said this year's championship brought together 240 players from across the country, including special participation from the State ANGKASA Committees.

Of the total, 192 participants formed 64 teams competing in the adult and school categories in the men's and women's triples format.

The ceremony also featured the signing of the commemorative plaque and the launch of the 2026 ANGKASA National Petanque Championship logo.

-- BERNAMA