\SOOK, SABAH, MALAYSIA – 20 July 2025 — In response to rising consumer prices and the declining purchasing power of rural communities, the United Progressive Kinabalu Organisation (UPKO) in Sook has proposed the expansion of “Tamu Desa” (village markets) across remote villages in the interior of Sabah as a community-driven economic platform.
Speaking to reporters after engaging with traders at the Tamu Desa in Kampung Binuow, UPKO Sook Coordinator Mohd Khairy Abdullah @ Henry said these markets serve not only as points of transaction but also as a vital economic and social institution for rural populations.
“The Tamu Desa is more than just a place to sell local goods. It is a grassroots economic hub where villagers can trade agricultural produce, traditional foods, handicrafts and home-based products in a structured and consistent manner,” said Khairy.
Reviving Village Economies through Local Market Ecosystems
The proposal calls for the expansion of scheduled village markets to more remote villages including Kampung Malaing, Bonor, Kalampun, Karamatoi and other isolated communities in Sook. Key benefits include:
- Providing consistent income opportunities to small-scale farmers and home-based traders;
- Reducing reliance on distant town markets and high transportation costs;
- Establishing a sustainable, localised and inclusive trade ecosystem.
“Even if each village holds a market just twice a month, it could significantly revitalise local cash flow and encourage self-reliance and entrepreneurship among families,” Khairy added.
Inflation and Purchasing Power Hitting Rural Sabah Hard
According to Malaysia’s Department of Statistics (DOSM), food inflation surged by 5.2% in the second quarter of 2025. Prices of essential goods such as rice, cooking oil, eggs and milk have seen a persistent upward trend.
In rural areas like Sook, the effects are more pronounced, with local purchasing power reportedly dropping between 40% to 60%, based on field data and grassroots-level monitoring.
Khairy emphasized that village market initiatives could be enhanced through strategic partnerships with cooperatives and government agencies such as the Ministry of Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives (KUSKOP), TEKUN Nasional, and the Ministry of Rural and Regional Development (KPLB).
Community-Led Solutions for Economic Inclusion
UPKO Sook is advocating a cross-sectoral approach to support Tamu Desa growth, including:
- Basic entrepreneurship training for women and youth in villages;
- Provision of micro-enterprise essentials such as canopies, display tables and mobile digital payment systems;
- Establishment of Village Market One-Stop Centres (PSTD) to serve as rural logistics and product distribution hubs.
“These village markets are not just about commerce—they’re about building community networks, knowledge-sharing and fostering local economic resilience. We believe in empowering people, from the people for the people,” Khairy stressed.
Ongoing Commitment to Rural Equity and Development
For more than five years, UPKO Sook has actively engaged communities in the region, listening to their concerns and advocating for dignified livelihoods.
“Many of our rural villages in Sook still lack proper roads, reliable water supply and digital connectivity. These basic deprivations should no longer exist if leaders genuinely care about the heartbeat of the people,” Khairy concluded. – By ROSANNA EDEZA and CHRISTOPHER DOMINIC
