KANGAR, June 17 (Bernama) -- Majlis Amanah Rakyat (MARA) in Perlis received more than RM125 million under the 12th Malaysia Plan (12MP) for the 2021-2025 period to implement various entrepreneur development programmes, said MARA director-general Datuk Zulfikri Osman.
He said more than 58 per cent of the allocation benefited women entrepreneurs through the provision of business financing facilities, business grants, as well as competency and capacity-building programmes aimed at strengthening entrepreneur development in the state.
He said that as a result of the continuous support, MARA entrepreneurs in Perlis recorded cumulative sales exceeding RM1 billion over the five-year period.
"In 2025, total sales generated by entrepreneurs under MARA are estimated at RM215 million. Indirectly, this represents a significant contribution to Perlis' Gross State Income," he said.
He was speaking at the opening ceremony of the Women in Search of Excellence (WiSE) 2026 programme, themed "Elevating Women, Empowering Communities", at the Bakawali Hall of the Royal Malaysia Police Senior Officers' Mess here last night. The programme was officiated by the Raja Muda of Perlis, Tuanku Syed Faizuddin Putra Jamalullail.
Zulfikri said the success of MARA entrepreneurs had also been strengthened through the Gate to Global initiative, which provides opportunities for entrepreneurs to penetrate international markets.
He noted that some entrepreneurs in Perlis had expanded their businesses globally, recording sales of more than RM20 million a month.
"In addition, the World Halal Products Exhibition, held in Hat Yai, from 2023 to 2025, helped entrepreneurs build new business networks, generating cumulative sales exceeding RM5 million," he said.
Zulfikri also said the WiSE programme, introduced by the Raja Muda of Perlis in 2023, had evolved into a strategic platform for empowering women through entrepreneurship development, capacity enhancement and the expansion of business networks.
-- BERNAMA
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