PMR 2025 boosts local entrepreneurs, strengthens Sabah's Eeconomy – Hajiji
Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Hajiji Noor receives a mock cheque for the completed Tamu Desa premises project in Sabah from Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Minister Datuk Ewon Benedick, witnessed by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Anwar Ibrahim during the closing ceremony of the Madani Rakyat 2025 Sabah Programme at the Tawau Municipal Council Square on Sunday.
TAWAU (May 11): Efforts to bring the Madani government's development programmes, such as the Program Madani Rakyat (PMR), to the district level provide valuable opportunities for local entrepreneurs to access information on government-led entrepreneurship initiatives, said Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Hajiji Noor.
He noted that such initiatives indirectly help promote local products to a wider audience, which in turn stimulates economic growth and the development of the domestic tourism sector.
'This effort also serves as a way to connect more closely with the people, ensuring that the promotion of Madani government programmes is not limited to specific areas only,' he said during the Program Madani Rakyat (PMR) 2025: Sabah held at the Tawau Municipal Council Square on Sunday.
'This is proof that the Madani government never neglects its responsibilities to the people, no matter where they are,' Hajiji added.
The closing ceremony was officiated by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Anwar Ibrahim.
Hajiji expressed hope that the Ministry of Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives (KUSKOP) would continue to support and strengthen entrepreneurial development, particularly in Sabah.
'Entrepreneurship initiatives designed specifically for Sabah such as the Tamu Desa Premises Project, digitisation efforts through TEKUN TikTok Shop, financing up to RM800 million, and the establishment of the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise (MSME) Hub by SME Corporation Malaysia have had a positive impact on over 50,000 micro, small and medium entrepreneurs in the state,' he said.
He also highlighted that the ehsan@KUSKOP initiative has the potential to eradicate hardcore poverty through a targeted intervention approach involving mentorship, training, capital and comprehensive monitoring.
'The approach introduced by KUSKOP has added strategic value to the local entrepreneurship landscape. Therefore, I hope the ehsan@KUSKOP programme can be further expanded to other districts and rural areas across Sabah,' said the Chief Minister.
He also called for greater accessibility to banking services, particularly from agencies under KUSKOP.
'I hope institutions like Bank Rakyat will consider opening more branches or, at the very least, installing Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) in rural areas to serve the public, especially local entrepreneurs,' he added.
Hajiji noted that at the state level, several programmes have been introduced to support youth entrepreneurship, including the Youth Entrepreneurs Excellence Scheme (SYABAS) under the Sabah Ministry of Youth and Sports.
'Under the Ministry of Industrial Development and Entrepreneurship, there are also several programmes focused on youth entrepreneurship development, such as the Graduate Entrepreneur Scheme Workshop (BUSS) and the Technical Entrepreneur Scheme Workshop (BEST), which target university graduates and vocational or skills institute graduates, respectively.
'The State Government, through Yayasan Usaha Maju (YUM), an agency established in 1995, continues to support small business owners by offering micro-loans to target groups, including women entrepreneurs, who need capital to grow their businesses,' he said.
Hajiji emphasised that the progress of the entrepreneurial sector is closely tied to the overall performance of the state and national economy.
'Since the end of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2021, Sabah's economy, which had previously slumped, has shown positive development, with the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) rising from RM82.1 billion in 2022 to RM83.2 billion in 2023.
'It is projected that Sabah's GDP for 2024 will reach RM84.9 billion. This clearly reflects the capability and commitment of the State Government not only in revitalising the economy but also in elevating Sabah's economic performance to its highest level,' he said.
He added that the government remains committed to accelerating efforts to eradicate hardcore poverty in Sabah, where significant reductions in poverty and hardcore poverty rates have already been achieved.
'This success is the result of close cooperation between the Federal Government and the State Government, through the implementation of several initiatives such as Rumah Mesra SMJ, Sentuhan Kasih Rakyat Sabah, and the State Government's policy of prioritising the employment of heads of households who are classified as poor or hardcore poor by state government agencies and selected government-linked companies,' he said.
In this regard, the Chief Minister stated that the strong relationship already established between the State Government and the Federal Government will continue to be strengthened.
'We are optimistic that the cooperation and close ties between both governments, state and federal, are the key to our shared success in achieving the goals of a Madani society: one that is progressive, knowledgeable, has integrity, and lives in prosperity and harmony,' he said.
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