Mission and Purpose

The People’s Credit Cooperative Society (Koperasi Kredit Rakyat (KKR)) was founded in 1975 in the rural town of Batang Berjuntai, Malaysia, to improve the socio-economic status of estate and mine workers through their increased involvement in economic activities.

Origins and Development

The KKR was founded in the 1970s by a church-led group who showed a film to plantation workers about how credit unions were being used in the Pacific Islands. Following this, interest amongst the community grew and a credit union was established. As time went on, members became interested in the benefits of a cooperative beyond economic returns and pursued training and funding to become an established cooperative [1].

Organizational Structure, Membership, and Funding

Funds are mobilized through members’ savings, and support KKR’s economic projects such as group insurance schemes, income generating activities, and community credit unions that provide financial services to members. KKR therefore links savers and borrowers in the same community. Members participate in the governance of the credit unions through the Area Committee and its sub committees, which meet on a monthly basis. At the annual General Meeting members have a chance to elect members of sub-committees and voice any concerns with the wider cooperative community.

Specializations, Methods and Tools

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Major Projects and Events

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Analysis and Lessons Learned

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Publications

See Also

References

[1] Jain, R. (2003). Culture and Economy: Tamils on the Plantation Frontier in Malaysia revisited, 1998-1999. In: Parekh, B. C.,Singh, G. and Vertovec, S. (2003). Culture and Economy in the Indian Diaspora. London, New York: Routledge.

External Links

https://www.eldis.org/keyissues/mapping-participation-economic-advancement

https://www.taylorfrancis.com/books/e/9780203398296

Notes

The first submission of this Participedia entry was adapted from a research project by the Institute of Development Studies, 'Linking Participation and Economic Advancement’ licensed and reproduced under Creative Commons (CC BY 3.0).

Original source: https://www.eldis.org/keyissues/mapping-participation-economic-advancement