Over RM770 Million Chanelled To Entrepreneurs, Cooperatives In Sabah

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 3 (Bernama) -- A total of 40,797 micro, small and medium enterprise (PMKS) entrepreneurs and cooperatives in Sabah received financing totalling RM770.1 million this year, said Entrepreneur and Cooperative Development Minister Datuk Ewon Benedick.

He said various financing schemes and entrepreneurial programmes are provided by the Entrepreneur and Cooperative Development Ministry (KUSKOP) to strengthen the entrepreneurial ecosystem and cooperative movement in Sabah.

Ewon said these included the “Usahawan Tamu dan Usahawan Kraf” financing scheme under TEKUN Nasional, the Bumiputera Enterprise Enhancement Programme (BEEP Plus) by SME Corp and the Borneo Zone Bizclinic Consultation Session by the National Entrepreneurship Institute (INSKEN). 

“KUSKOP has introduced the Look East Policy at the ministry level, and without affecting the implementation of existing programmes nationwide, additional focus has been given to Sabah and Sarawak,” he said during an oral question and answer session at the Dewan Rakyat today.

He was responding to a question from Datuk Jonathan Yasin (GRS-Ranau) regarding steps that have been taken and are being planned by the government to help develop more entrepreneurs and cooperatives in Sabah to achieve greater progress.

Ewon said the ministry is also implementing the Tamu Desa Premises Development Project by providing more organised business facilities, providing the PMKS Hub and organising carnivals, as well as entrepreneurship and cooperative expositions in Sabah.

In addition, he said,  agencies under KUSKOP, such as TEKUN Nasional, Perbadanan Nasional Berhad (PERNAS), Bank Rakyat, INSKEN and the Malaysian Cooperative Commission (SKM) were also opening new branches and service facilities in Sabah to facilitate the affairs of local entrepreneurs and cooperatives.

Meanwhile, Ewon said there are 3,072 cooperatives from the youth group registered by SKM, as of Dec 31 last year.

He said the cooperatives recorded 2.4 million members with a turnover of RM848 million, as well as recording RM264 million in terms of share capital.

Ewon was responding to a question from Roy Angau Gingkoi (GPS-Lubok Antu) regarding the success of Youth Cooperatives and Community Tourism Cooperatives in increasing youth income.

-- BERNAMA