JOHOR BAHRU: The Ministry of Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives (MEDAC) is committed to setting up collection and distribution centres for cooperative shops (Coop Marts) in each state by the end of this year.

Its minister, Tan Sri Noh Omar, said the move was to reduce the involvement of middlemen and the prices of goods in the market, thus providing benefit to consumers.

"Our plan is to set up (a collection and distribution centre) in each state, so that these items can be collected and distributed directly to Coop Mart to help reduce their prices of goods," he said.

He said this to reporters after visiting De Metrology Sdn Bhd, a government licensed company that provides weighing and measuring equipment verification services, here today.

Noh said for that purpose, MEDAC has forged collaboration with Koperasi Legasi Bhd and the National Cooperative Movement of Malaysia Bhd (Angkasa).

"We have collaborated with Koperasi Legasi which has seven collection and distribution centres, as well as Angkasa that has one distribution centre," Noh said, adding that he welcomed the participation of other companies as well.

He also said that the ministry targets to set up more Coop Marts nationwide that offer goods cheaper than the market prices.

-- BERNAMA