Misi Md.Shah Ithnin (Pengerusi KOPKETA)

2009/07/02
HAVING WELFARE OF MEMBERS AT HEART         
       MY involvement in the cooperative movement began when a group of Johor-born police personnel applied for land from the state government.
         Koperasi Kemajuan Tanah Negeri Johor Bhd has seen a big increase in membership over the years. - Pictures by Mustapha Ismail
         Koperasi Kemajuan Tanah Negeri Johor Bhd has seen a big increase in membership over the years. - Pictures by Mustapha Ismail
           Mohd Shah Ithnin (right) chairing a recent annual general meeting of Koperasi Kemajuan Tanah Negeri Johor Bhd.
          Mohd Shah Ithnin (right) chairing a recent annual general meeting of Koperasi Kemajuan Tanah Negeri Johor Bhd.
        Although we had only wanted individual plots of land for ourselves, then Johor Menteri Besar Tan Sri Othman Saat advised us that it would be better if the land was awarded collectively under a cooperative.
            He said this would ensure that we could fully benefit from the land as he was afraid that some of us would want to make a quick profit by selling it.
           That was how Koperasi Polis Johor, later known as Koperasi Kemajuan Tanah Negeri Johor Bhd or Kopketa today, was established in 1955.
           The state government, in appreciation of the sacrifices made by police personnel, awarded 2,000 acres or 809 hectares of land to the cooperative, which we initially used to cultivate oil palm.
           Over the years, we expanded our activities to include agriculture, cattle farming, drinking water manufacturing and property development.
           The number of members has also increased over the years, which now includes the children of our original members. There are now 320 members in the cooperative.
            I was appointed as the secretary of the cooperative from 1960 to 1969.
            In 2001, I was chosen as the chairman and has held the post ever since.
            As chairman, I take great pleasure in giving my best and helping our members improve economically as well as ensuring that their welfare is well taken care of.
            We assist them whenever they are in trouble and also offer free "umrah" package to them.
            As a token of appreciation for our members, the cooperative has decided a few years ago to give each of them a bungalow at our 364-ha development project called Bandar Sri Putra near Kluang.
            This would cost the co-operative some RM56 million. However, we wanted to reward our members for their years of support and loyalty.Although I am 81, I will carry on as there is still a lot for me to do.
Only when the co-operative's current dealings are over and done with, will I then think of retirement.
            Nevertheless, I have trained and nurtured the next generation of leaders so that the cooperative can achieve greater heights.Mohd Shah Ithnin, 81, is the chairman of Kopketa. He is also the chairman of the Johor Ex-Policemen Association and the treasurer-general of the Malaysian Ex-Policemen Association.

 Interview by Rizalman Hammim -JOHOR STREET