Ewon: Sabah's Madani Rakyat Programme 2025 offers wide-ranging support to lift rural, B40 communities out of poverty
KOTA KINABALU, May 3 — Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Minister Datuk Ewon Benedick said the 2025 Madani Rakyat Programme (PMR 2025) in Sabah allows people in the state to access various opportunities and assistance to lift them out of poverty.
He urged Sabahans to seize these opportunities and assistance, including entrepreneurship, cooperatives, and employment options.
He said the Sabah PMR 2025 theme, 'Menoktahkan Kemiskinan Melalui Keusahawanan' (Eliminating Poverty Through Entrepreneurship), reflects the government's commitment to addressing poverty sustainably by empowering the people through entrepreneurial initiatives — creating income opportunities, employment, and social mobility, particularly for rural and B40 communities.
'The public can access various opportunities and services suited to their needs by attending this PMR event. Entrepreneurs can obtain assistance, grants, and financing to grow their businesses.
'Have faith that we can put an end to the poverty that has been plaguing us in Sabah...by making the most of attending the event and getting what we need to overcome poverty and help boost our economic activity,' he said in an interview with Sabah FM radio station here today.
Sabah PMR 2025 will occur over three days, starting May 9 at the Tawau Municipal Council Square. The Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Ministry leads the initiative, collaborating with the Performance Acceleration and Coordination Unit (PACU) and the Sabah government.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is expected to officiate at the closing ceremony at 2pm on May 11, where top Federal and state leaders are scheduled to attend.
Ewon said that in addition to 36 exhibition booths by ministries and agencies, several satellite programmes would be held, including a gotong-royong (community clean-up) initiative in Kampung Mentadak Baru, Pulau Sebatik, Tawau on May 7, and the ministry's Halal Success Programme at Tawau Community College on May 8 and 9.
He said the Bicara Ilmu programme, in conjunction with the Turun Padang Ke Arah Memperkasakan Koperasi 2025 initiative, will take place on May 8 to discuss 'Menoktahkan Kemiskinan Melalui Model Perniagaan Koperasi' (Ending Poverty Through the Cooperative Business Model)
'A gotong-royong will be held at PPR Batu 8, Tawau, on May 11, involving the repair of the futsal court and the installation of solar panels by the Tawau Contractors Association in the housing area that accommodates 900 residential units with nearly 4,500 residents,' he said.
Ewon said the event will also feature the Satu Daerah Satu Industri (SDSI) showcase. SDSI is a strategic initiative for local economic development, focusing on empowering each district's unique product since 2019.
He said that, under the SDSI initiative, within six months, the Kudat district successfully increased its annual sales average in the traditional weaving industry by 28.7 per cent, from RM45,000 to RM57,915.
He said the SDSI initiative has also developed the stingless bee honey industry in Ranau, with an increase in the average annual sales by 25.2 per cent, from RM38,500 to RM48,202.
According to Ewon, the Sabah PMR 2025 will also feature the Madani Sales Programme, offering over 200 daily necessities at lower prices, with discounts of up to 30 per cent, including fresh chicken, eggs, rice, and cooking oil.
'This programme is also joined by 120 SDSI entrepreneurs, 24 food and beverage vendors under the Selera Di Bawah Bayu segment, and nine food truck entrepreneurs.
'Meanwhile, the pocket talk sessions at PMR 2025 Sabah will highlight various engaging topics related to entrepreneurship, cooperatives, and economic development, presented by industry experts and renowned speakers,' Ewon added. — Bernama
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Star
13 hours ago
- The Star
Warisan calls for more Sabahan representation in judiciary, JAC
KOTA KINABALU: Parti Warisan has called for greater Sabahan representation in the higher judiciary and the Judicial Appointments Commission (JAC), raising longstanding concerns about East Malaysia's exclusion from key national decision-making bodies. The party's legal advisor, Chin Tek Ming, said it was deeply troubling that not a single Sabahan currently sits on the nine-member JAC, which is tasked with nominating judges to Malaysia's superior courts. "The judiciary must reflect the diverse fabric of Malaysia, inclusive of voices from East Malaysia," he said in a statement. "Strengthening Sabahan representation will enhance the credibility and inclusiveness of our judiciary and reaffirm our national unity." Chin said the upcoming retirements of Chief Justice Tun Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat and Court of Appeal President Tan Sri Datuk Amar Abang Iskandar Abang Hashim in July make it even more urgent to address the imbalance. While he welcomed the promotion of former Kota Kinabalu High Court judge Datuk Dr Lim Hock Leng to the Court of Appeal, Chin noted that such progress remains the exception rather than the norm. He stressed the need for deliberate efforts to appoint more Sabahans to top judicial positions, including seats on the JAC. Chin proposed that respected retired judges from Sabah, such as former Chief Justice Tun Richard Malanjum and former Chief Judge of Sabah and Sarawak Tan Sri David Wong Dak Wah, be appointed to the JAC. He said their distinguished service and deep understanding of Borneo's legal, cultural, and societal context would bring critical value to the commission's deliberations. "Their inclusion would not only provide regional balance but also strengthen the judiciary with perspectives grounded in justice, integrity, and independence," he said. Chin also called for long-term reforms to address the persistent under-representation of Bornean judges at the appellate level. "We need a fairer system that recognises the imbalance in numbers between Peninsular and Bornean judges," he said. "Right now, Bornean judges are structurally disadvantaged in promotion pathways simply because they are fewer in number." To ensure equitable advancement, Chin urged the establishment of a fixed minimum number of judges from Sabah and Sarawak in the Court of Appeal and Federal Court. He also suggested that Bornean judges be assessed within their own promotion pools. He said such reforms would help retain Bornean judicial experience, especially in handling cases involving native laws, customary practices, and regional issues - areas requiring local knowledge and sensitivity. Chin further urged the government and judiciary to ensure that qualified Sabahans, including retired judges, are considered for all future appointments to the appellate courts and the JAC. "This would reflect the spirit of the Malaysia Agreement 1963 and uphold the constitutional rights of Sabahans to participate fully in national institutions," he said. "There's no shortage of qualified Sabahan judges, past and present. What we lack is a mechanism to ensure they are fairly considered and promoted based on merit and experience."
Malaysiakini
16 hours ago
- Malaysiakini
Warisan legal adviser pushes for louder Sabah voice in judiciary, JAC
Warisan legal adviser Chin Tek Ming has expressed concern regarding the state of representation within the judiciary, particularly in light of the upcoming retirements of Chief Justice Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat and Court of Appeal president Amar Abang Iskandar Abang Hashim next month. While he welcomed the elevation of Lim Hock Leng, formerly a Kota Kinabalu High Court judge, to the Court of Appeal, he highlighted a pressing issue that continues to persist - the under-representation of Sabahans in the higher judiciary and the Judicial Appointments Commission (JAC).
Daily Express
17 hours ago
- Daily Express
Purpose Sabah GLCs set up defeated
Published on: Monday, June 09, 2025 Published on: Mon, Jun 09, 2025 By: David Thien Text Size: Former Sabah Law Society President Datuk Roger Chin (left) and a retired banker Datuk John Lo. Kota Kinabalu: Sabah's Government-linked companies (GLCs) should be profit-centres earning billions in ringgit for Sabah. As economic force multipliers they should be providing high income jobs to thousands of Sabahans as they embark on down-streaming for export. If successful, they could be listed on Bursa Malaysia to raise development funds. Advertisement That was the ideal situation envisioned by former Chief Minister Tan Sri Harris Salleh when he initiated the set-up of many Sabah GLCs during the Berjaya administration. Subsequent Sabah Governments proliferated many more GLCs, with little consideration of their economic purposes or roles. Mostly to give perks to political warlords and cronies. Good governance was thrown out of the window. The result is some 250 GLCs today, most of which are poorly managed and bleeding millions of ringgit. Advertisement The present State Government's placement of more professionals in the management of GLCs in an attempt to reform and turn around loss-making GLCs is in the right direction, according to retired banker Datuk John Lo. He shared his opinions in a 'Sabah Voices to Action' podcast with former Sabah Law Society President Datuk Roger Chin with Kopi Tiam Council hosts Adi and Haffisz organised by NGO Sabar recently on 'Economic Imperative on Stringent Governance for Sabah's GLCs'. 'I always feel we Sabahans are our biggest enemies because people who have been put in trust are not doing their job,' Lo said Harris used GLCs to propel the boom during the Berjaya government, instead of just using government departments. 'One of the main reasons being GLCs are very private sector driven and should be able to help Sabah develop faster. During his (Harris) time, the GLCs generally speaking did a very good job. 'There was a big boom.' Lo, who is an advisor to the State government in his role in the Sabah Economic Advisory Council (SEAC) and in the Institute of Development Studies (IDS). Lo recalled how Harris started a number of GLCs when he became Chief Minister. Harris' intention was that these GLCs would help to expedite the development of Sabah. To a large extent, Harris succeeded. Sabah became No. 2 state in Malaysia, after Selangor. Since he left office, Sabah has become No.2 from the bottom. Some of the GLCs that Harris created include Sabah Gas, Sabah Energy, Sabah Methanol, Asean Supply Base, Sabah Air, Sabah Forest Industries (SFI), Tanjong Aru Beach Hotel or TABH [now Shangri-La Tanjong Aru Resort], Labuan ShipYard, Sabah Hot Briquetted Iron, KPI, SUDC, Sabah Cement Industries. Significantly, Harris also gave birth to three financial institutions – Sabah Development Bank, Sabah Bank and Sabah Finance. Unique because no other state has ever been granted approval for three financial institutions bearing the name of the state. GLCs dominate every important economic sector in Sabah. GLCs are in effective control of many natural resources: mining/minerals [SMM], timber and FMU [Innoprise, Safoda]. 'The GLCs have been given the most valuable lands in Kota Kinabalu. All the commercial lands were given to the GLCs for a mere RM1,000. 'And then they go and JV (joint venture) with somebody and today a particular GLC is insolvent, instead of making billions. The GLCs are in control of a lot of our assets from oil palm plantations which are worth in the billions, with monopolies like Cement Sabah etc. 'Every aspect of our economic life, we have some GLCs involved,' Lo revealed. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
