KOTA KINABALU – Sabah Star president Datuk Seri Jeffrey Kitingan today launched the party’s cooperative, a social enterprise aimed at improving the economic standing of its members.
He said Sabah Star Sdn Bhd could become the biggest cooperative in the state if all of its 400,000 members join.
“We just had our first meeting today and we are going to do a membership drive first.
“We are targeting about 10,000 members in the next two or three days, and at least 50% of the party members in a year’s time,” he said after launching the cooperative here today.
Jeffrey said membership is also open to non-party members, but priority will be given to political party members.
“With the membership, we hope to raise funds and venture into economic activities, like agriculture, tourism and others. We will try to avoid borrowings in the process.
“I foresee the potential. In business, you need the numbers, just like politics. This is the strength of a cooperative,” he said.
On another development, Jeffrey said he believes the African Swine Flu infection spreading among local wild and domestic pigs in the state could have been brought into Sabah by illegal immigrants.
Although the movement control order has seen the borders close, Sabah’s agriculture and fisheries minister believes foreigners have still been able to enter the state illegally.
“We dont know where the swine flu came from but we suspect it is at exit points from the Philippines,” said Jeffrey.
A swine flu outbreak was recently announced in nine Sabah districts – Pitas, Beluran, Kinabatangan, Kota Marudu, Sandakan, Lahad Datu, Telupid, Tongod and Nabawan.
The state has culled 398 pigs, while 535 have died of the fever. Infections were also found among the wild boar population. – The Vibes, April 27, 2021
