Deputy Entrepreneur Development and Cooperative Minister Datuk Mas Ermieyati Samsudin today proposed for Kelantan Asnaf Welfare Club to form a cooperative so that its members can run a business to improve their livelihoods.

She said she would ask the Malaysian Co-operative Societies Commission to provide necessary guidance to the club members on how to boost their local economy.

“Under a cooperative, members of the club will be seen to be more competitive...to improve their livelihoods and get out of poverty,” she told reporters after attending the ‘Sugho Kemerdekaan’ programme and the presentation of Bank Rakyat’s business tithe here yesterday.

The programme saw over 400 participants from the club and Pengkalan Chepa Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) being involved in cooking Asyura porridge.

At the event, Mas Ermieyati, who is also Bersatu Srikandi vice-chief, also received 525 application forms to join Kelantan Bersatu.

In her speech earlier, Mas Ermieyati also called on more technocrats and non-governmental organisations to work with the government to help the underprivileged people to get out of poverty.