SERI KEMBANGAN: MyANGKASA Holdings Sdn Bhd (MHSB), a wholly owned subsidiary of Angkatan Koperasi Kebangsaan Malaysia Bhd (Angkasa), has launched eye healthcare initiative for its 7.4 million cooperative members and their dependents.

Deputy Minister of Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Datuk Mohamad Alamin said the collaboration enables members to obtain eye treatment, including surgery, at Optimax Eye Specialist Centre through the Angkasa salary deduction system.

“They only need to go to the centre and the payment will be made through salary deductions. In my view, this is a bold step taken by MyANGKASA Holdings. What is important is that they are able to provide benefits to their members. I believe this initiative has undergone a long assessment and very careful evaluation by MyANGKASA before the MoU was signed today,” he said at a press conference at the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between MHSB and Optimax Eye Specialist Centre, under Optimax Holdings Bhd today. 

Mohamad Alamin said currently the programme would only be accessible to Optimax Eye Specialist Centre. 

“While there may be hospitals available as panel providers for certain treatments, the memorandum of understanding signed today is specifically with Optimax.”

Mohamad Alamin added that there is no specific timeframe for the programme and the collaboration will remain in effect indefinitely. 

He said that the Ministry of Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives (KUSKOP) welcomes the collaboration and encourages more corporations to develop creative partnerships that benefit their members.

“I also hope that Optimax will assist MyANGKASA and its members in obtaining the treatment they need. Even if the company may not gain maximum profit, at least it does not burden members and fulfills a form of social responsibility towards MyANGKASA members,” he said.

The collaboration is one of the largest eye healthcare programmes in Malaysia, providing access to services across 24 Optimax branches nationwide, including Sabah and Sarawak.

The programme is expected to shorten treatment waiting times and utilise the latest ophthalmology technology.

Rising cases of myopia and other vision-related problems are expected to drive demand for eye treatments.

The initiative is projected to contribute 20% to 30% growth in Optimax’s business while raising awareness of eye health among cooperative members.

Optimax, established more than 31 years ago, is among the earliest refractive eye centres in Malaysia offering advanced vision correction treatments.

The centre also provides treatments for cataracts, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy and other vision disorders, and receives patients from regional countries including Indonesia, Cambodia, Thailand, Singapore and China.

Through the collaboration, MHSB aims to strengthen its strategic business portfolio while expanding social benefits for cooperative members.

The initiative also opens opportunities for cooperatives to act as financing partners and facilitators to help members access eye healthcare services.

 The Sun Malaysia