Ewon Benedick Presents Appointment Letters to New KUSKOP Deputy Secretary-General and SKM CEO

PUTRAJAYA, 18 July 2025 – Malaysia’s Ministry of Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives (KUSKOP) marked a pivotal step in strengthening its leadership and institutional governance as Minister Datuk Ewon Benedick officially presented letters of appointment to two newly appointed senior officials today.

Haji Rahman Mohd Din has been appointed as the Deputy Secretary-General (Policy and Monitoring) of KUSKOP, while Noor Afifah Abdul Razak has been named as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Malaysian Cooperative Societies Commission (SKM). Both appointments took effect on 14 July 2025.

The presentation ceremony was held in a brief yet meaningful session prior to the Ministry’s post-Cabinet meeting in Putrajaya.

Strategic Leadership to Advance Policy Reform and Entrepreneurial Ecosystem

Minister Ewon welcomed the appointments, emphasizing their strategic importance in driving national reform initiatives and accelerating the development of a resilient, inclusive entrepreneurial and cooperative ecosystem.

“With their extensive experience in public administration, I am confident that Haji Rahman and Ms. Noor Afifah will strengthen the ministry’s vision and mission to uplift Malaysia’s entrepreneur and cooperative sectors to new heights,” he said.

He also stressed the importance of adaptive, forward-thinking leadership in navigating the evolving global economic landscape and leveraging innovation and digital transformation.

A Historic Appointment: First Woman to Lead SKM

Noor Afifah’s appointment marks a historic milestone as she becomes the first woman ever to lead SKM as its CEO since the commission’s establishment.

“It is a profound honour to be entrusted with this role. I am committed to enhancing SKM’s role in shaping a dynamic, modern, and globally competitive cooperative movement,” she said, expressing her gratitude and determination to elevate the cooperative sector’s impact.

Driving High-Impact Governance and Policy Delivery

Haji Rahman, who previously served as Chief Executive Officer of the Malaysian Institute of Integrity, expressed his commitment to strengthening policy execution and monitoring frameworks that support national entrepreneurship goals.

“I believe inclusive, data-driven, and citizen-centric policies are key to achieving impactful development in the entrepreneurial and cooperative spheres,” he noted.

These appointments underscore KUSKOP’s ongoing commitment to empowering strategic leadership aligned with the principles of Malaysia MADANI and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).