Latest news with #SabahStateBudget2025
Daily Express
10-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Express
643 roadside traders entitled to aid: Jeffrey
Published on: Saturday, May 10, 2025 Published on: Sat, May 10, 2025 By: Clarence Dol Text Size: Dr Joachim (middle) poses for a photo with the roadside small traders who received aid for Ranau district. Kundasang: A total of 643 small roadside stall traders throughout Sabah have been identified as eligible to receive one-off assistance amounting to RM5,000 as announced in the tabling of the Sabah State Budget 2025. Deputy Chief Minister II Datuk Seri Dr Joachim Gunsalam who announced this said that the list of aid recipients was finalised after a comprehensive verification process carried out by a special committee involving the Ministry of Local Government and Housing (KKTP), the State Ministry of Finance and all Local Authorities (PBT). 'A field trip programme was carried out to obtain data on small roadside stall traders in all districts. 'After research was carried out based on the established mechanism, a total of 643 traders have been identified as eligible to receive this assistance,' he said. He was speaking when officiating the Kick-Off Ceremony for the Handover of Upgrading Efforts for the Community and the General Public (UNTUKMU) at the Sabah state level at the Kundasang Cultural Stage, here Thursday. Dr Joachim, who is also the Minister of Local Government and Housing, said that of the total, 47 recipients from the Ranau district received the assistance in the form of a one-off cash contribution worth RM5,000 each. He said that the initiative is a sign of the State Government's concern for the plight of small traders who are facing challenges such as increased operating costs, lack of capital and unstable business locations. He also considered small traders as micro-economic drivers who play an important role in providing services to the local community. 'Hopefully this assistance can be put to good use, whether to purchase equipment, as additional capital, or to further expand existing businesses,' he said. The ceremony on Thursday also saw the handover of mock cheques to the PBTs involved before the phased distribution of assistance to other districts is implemented. Also present were Deputy Permanent Secretary II of the KKTP, Faridah Giau; Ranau District Officer, Tinus Manggam; President of the Penampang Municipal Council, Francis Chong; representative of the Ranau Member of Parliament, Hussen Haji Jirat; representative of the Karanaan Assemblyman, Datuk Faimin Kamin; representative of the Paginatan Assemblyman, Hishamuddin Harun; Ranau Deputy Police Chief, ASP Edianshah Endal; KKTP officers and Community Leaders. * Follow us on Instagram and join our Telegram and/or WhatsApp channel(s) for the latest news you don't want to miss. * 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
Daily Express
08-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Express
State rolls out RM5,000 aid for roadside stall operators
Published on: Thursday, May 08, 2025 Published on: Thu, May 08, 2025 Text Size: Joachim with some of the recipients. - Pic by TKM II Media RANAU: A total of 643 roadside stall traders in Sabah have been identified to be eligible for a one-off RM5,000 assistance under the Sabah State Budget 2025. Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Seri Dr Joachim Gunsalam said the list was finalised following thorough verification by a special committee comprising the Local Government and Housing Ministry, the State Finance Ministry and all local authorities. He announced this during the state-level launch of the Untukmu community upgrade aid programme in Kundasang, where 47 traders from Ranau received the cash assistance. Joachim, who is also the Local Government and Housing Minister, said the initiative reflects the state government's concern for small traders facing rising costs, limited capital, and unstable business locations. The event also saw mock cheques handed to local authorities, with phased disbursement to other districts set to follow. * Follow us on Instagram and join our Telegram and/or WhatsApp channel(s) for the latest news you don't want to miss. * 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
Daily Express
06-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Express
Dayang: New initiative to empower young women traders
Published on: Tuesday, May 06, 2025 Published on: Tue, May 06, 2025 By: Ahmad Apong Text Size: Azizah visiting one of the booths at the event. BEAUFORT: The Sabah Government launched a new initiative aimed at empowering young women entrepreneurs across the State, offering financial assistance and business support to help overcome capital constraints. The programme, known as Daya Upaya Peluang Usahanita (Dayang), was highlighted during the closing ceremony of the Young Women Entrepreneurs Empowerment Programme held at Dewan Pa Musa last Saturday. The event was organised in collaboration between the Institute for Development Studies (IDS) Sabah and Sabah Credit Corporation, with support from the Beaufort, Sipitang, Kuala Penyu and Membakut district offices. The closing ceremony was officiated by IDS Chairperson Datuk Seri Azizah Mohd Dun who said these four districts were chosen as the first destinations for the roadshow series to promote the fund to target groups. 'I sincerely hope that many young women entrepreneurs from these four districts will take advantage of the facilities offered to elevate their businesses to higher, more advance and profitable levels,' she said. The initiative was first announced during the Sabah State Budget 2025 tabled on November 15, 2024, as a specific financial incentive and capital assistance programme for young women entrepreneurs. 'This programme represents one of the government's efforts to help overcome the main obstacle facing young women in business, namely, capital constraints,' Azizah said. She said the collaboration between IDS' research expertise and the Sabah Credit Corporation would ensure more efficient programme implementation focused on making a meaningful impact on young women entrepreneurs. 'This type of cooperation is being conducted for the first time and IDS hopes this collaboration will continue to help the State Government enhance various entrepreneurship programs in Sabah,' she added. Azizah noted that Sabah has Malaysia's highest rural population, exceeding 60 per cent, which influences the economic ownership gap between urban and rural areas. 'Economic and entrepreneurial opportunities, especially in business, are more numerous, larger and more accessible in urban areas. While, the size of the economy and entrepreneurship in rural areas remains smaller for now,' she said. The Dayang programme aims to address this imbalance by strengthening rural economies through women's participation. 'Global observations show that women are important agents of social transformation through economic participation, ownership and mastery,' Azizah said, quoting former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan 'When women thrive, all of society benefits and succeeding generations are given a better start in life.' The Dayang programme not only provides financial loans to start or expand existing businesses but also offers a continuous support ecosystem in all 30 districts of Sabah where these entrepreneurs operate. 'The support provided by IDS is based on a mentor-mentee concept,' Azizah said. 'Support elements include building capacity and skills over time and facilitating market access. Most importantly, we also help them create social capital through networking with other grassroots entrepreneurs in their respective localities,' she added. She encouraged young women entrepreneurs from Beaufort, Sipitang, Membakut and Kuala Penyu to make the best use of this opportunity to start, expand and advance their businesses, noting that business expansion can create downstream businesses and, more importantly, employment opportunities for local residents. 'I pray that we will achieve much success through this effort,' she said. The event also included a Raya celebration as it took place during the month of Syawal, providing an opportunity for attendees to strengthen relationships while enjoying prepared refreshments. * Follow us on Instagram and join our Telegram and/or WhatsApp channel(s) for the latest news you don't want to miss. * 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
