KUCHING: The Malaysia Co-operative Societies Commission of Malaysia (SKM) has reaffirmed its commitment to empowering community-based health cooperatives following a working visit by its Chief Executive Officer, Noor Afifah Abdul Razak, to Koperasi Mamacare Sarawak Bhd on Thursday.
The visit, conducted at the Meditel Complex and Serapi Verdure Hotel adjacent to Sarawak General Hospital, highlighted the cooperative’s strategic role in the state’s healthcare and community wellness ecosystem.
Since its establishment in 2022, Mamacare Sarawak has demonstrated significant potential in delivering health support services, daily necessities, and community programmes that benefit patients, their families, and hospital staff.
Its proximity to Sarawak General Hospital and the Meditel complex has proven instrumental in meeting the high demand from the surrounding community.
During the interactive session, cooperative members and management raised various operational challenges, including capital requirements for business expansion and the need for digital technology integration to enhance efficiency and market reach.
They shared their experiences in providing one-stop-shop facilities for health and wellness services.
Noor Afifah offered direct guidance on improvement measures, emphasising compliance with cooperative legislation and exploring strategic partnerships with other agencies to ensure long-term sustainability.
The visit served as a platform to introduce SKM’s latest initiatives, including capacity building programmes, assistance grants, and improved access to financing for micro and small cooperatives in both rural and urban areas of Sarawak.
Noor Afifah stressed that cooperatives like Mamacare Sarawak could become exemplary models supporting the Sarawak Digital Economy and Post-COVID Recovery agenda while helping reduce living costs through affordable, quality services.
Deputy Chairman of Koperasi Mamacare Sarawak Bhd, Rosmawati Bolhassan, welcomed the delegation at the complex entrance.
The tour included visits to the Postnatal Care Centre, spa facilities, and traditional health treatment services, which combine postnatal care, traditional massage, and health programmes for senior citizens, persons with disabilities, and bedridden patients.
The briefing session featured three key presentations.
Meditel Complex Director Jetson Hoo explained the complex’s concept as Malaysia’s first public medical mall under the Private Funded Initiatives (PFI) extension of Sarawak General Hospital, featuring a 160-room hotel, multi-level parking, food court, and community facilities including blood donation programmes.
Rosmawati presented the cooperative’s profile, established on April 21, 2022, with 32 members—predominantly B40 women who are traditional health practitioners.
The cooperative operates across Kuching, Samarahan, Sri Aman, Sibu, Bintulu, and Miri, providing postnatal care, health training, and product marketing services.
Registered as a social enterprise, the cooperative remains committed to helping members and the local community generate income.
Dr Suhaila Saee, a lecturer from UNIMAS Faculty of Computer Science and Information Technology, shared details of a collaborative project between UNIMAS, SKM, and Koperasi Mamacare.
The project developed an integrated digital booking system (iKOM+) designed to improve operational efficiency, digital literacy, and income for B40 women entrepreneurs.
Officially launched on December 2, 2025, the system won the Gold Award at SULAM Innovate Showcase and Symposium (SUISS) 2025 and received recognition under the Bureaucratic Reform Project by the Malaysia Productivity Corporation (MPC).
The visit highlighted successful collaboration between government agencies, the private sector, community-based cooperatives, and academic institutions in advancing women’s economic empowerment and traditional health services in Sarawak.
All parties expressed their commitment to continued cooperation, ensuring Koperasi Mamacare Sarawak Bhd grows as an innovative cooperative model benefiting the community, particularly B40 women in the state.
