Latest news with #TamuDesa
The Sun
30-07-2025
- Business
- The Sun
KUSKOP upgrades 39 Tamu Desa premises in Sarawak with RM7.85 mln
KUCHING: The Ministry of Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives (KUSKOP) has completed the construction and upgrading of 39 Tamu Desa (Village Guest) premises across Sarawak, with a total allocation of RM7.85 million. Minister Datuk Ewon Benedick stated that the project, implemented in phases with local authorities, aims to enhance rural market infrastructure. 'This initiative, introduced in 2024, will continue this year. We will discuss with the Sarawak government to address requests from MPs for more rural stalls and markets to be assisted,' he said after visiting Tamu Sungai Apong. The project supports rural economic empowerment and encourages small entrepreneurs' participation. Ewon noted receiving four applications from Sarawak MPs for expansion. 'We will coordinate with Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan to select suitable locations,' he added. Phase 1 saw 13 completed projects (RM1.99 mln), while Phase 2 includes 26 ongoing projects (RM5.85 mln), such as Tamu Semarak and Tamu Sukma, set for completion in August. Tamu Sungai Apong's upgrade cost RM416,000 across two phases. KUSKOP has implemented 100 Tamu Desa projects in Sabah and Sarawak over the past year, with 61 in Sabah and 39 in Sarawak, reinforcing rural entrepreneurial ecosystems. - Bernama
Barnama
30-07-2025
- Business
- Barnama
KUSKOP Upgrades 39 Tamu Desa Premises In Sarawak With An Allocation Of RM7.85 Mln
KUCHING, July 30 (Bernama) -- The Ministry of Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives (KUSKOP) has built and upgraded a total of 39 Tamu Desa (Village Guest) premises across Sarawak over the past year, with a total allocation of RM7.85 million. Its minister, Datuk Ewon Benedick, said the project's implementation is being carried out in phases in collaboration with the local authorities (PBT) involved. "This is a project that was first introduced by KUSKOP to improve guest markets in Sabah and Sarawak, starting in 2024, and we will continue this project for this year. "For the project in Sarawak this year, we will discuss with the state government the implementation mechanism, taking into account the requests of several Sarawak Members of Parliament (MPs) who want stalls and tamu (markets) in rural areas to also be assisted," he told reporters after visiting the Tamu Sungai Apong premises here today. He said the implementation of the Tamu Desa premises development project is among KUSKOP's ongoing commitments in empowering the rural community's economy and encouraging the active participation of small entrepreneurs in the local economic system in Sabah and Sarawak. He said he has received four applications from Sarawak MPs who want the initiative to be expanded in the state. "I need to have a discussion first with Sarawak Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan to select a suitable location for this project," he said. Meanwhile, Ewon said in a statement that for the Tamu Desa project in Sarawak, a total of 13 Tamu Desa projects have been implemented, costing RM1.99 million, and all of them involving Phase 1 have been fully completed. Phase 2 involves 26 projects with an allocation of RM5.85 million, and ongoing projects include Tamu Semarak and Tamu Sukma, which are expected to be completed next month (August).
Borneo Post
30-07-2025
- Business
- Borneo Post
Tamu Desa to be expanded in Sarawak, says minister
Ewon speaks during the press conference at Pasar Sungai Apong in Kuching today. – Photo by Mohd Faisal Ahmad KUCHING (July 30): The Ministry of Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives is looking to expand its Tamu Desa initiative in Sarawak this year, with discussions to be held with the state government to determine priority areas and implementation mechanisms. Minister Datuk Ewon Benedick said the expansion follows positive feedback and the successful rollout of 39 projects across Sarawak in 2024, involving a total allocation of RM7.8 million. 'This year, we will hold discussions with the Sarawak government, specifically with Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan, to identify new locations and coordinate project implementation,' he told a press conference during a visit to the upgraded Pasar Sungai Apong here today. 'We've already received applications from four Sarawak Members of Parliament requesting that Tamu Desa projects be implemented in their respective constituencies, especially in rural and remote areas,' he added. The Tamu Desa initiative, introduced in 2024, is designed to upgrade, refurbish, or construct new community markets, particularly in underserved areas of Sabah and Sarawak. For 2025, the federal government has allocated a total of RM20 million under the national budget and an additional announcement made by the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim during the Madani Rakyat programme in Tawau last May. 'This year's funding is the same as last year – RM10 million through the 2025 Budget, and RM10 million more announced by the Prime Minister. We aim to ensure continued implementation of these projects in both Sarawak and Sabah,' Ewon said. While the initiative originally focused on rural areas, Ewon said Sarawak's approach last year included markets in urban centres and areas under local authorities such as municipal councils. 'In Sarawak, some of the projects involved existing markets like Pasar Sungai Apong. Based on our discussions last year, the state government felt there was also a need to upgrade existing market infrastructure, and I agree that this should continue,' he said. He added that before finalising new projects, the ministry would consult with the Deputy Premier to ensure alignment with state development plans and secure a list of proposed sites. When asked whether most of the proposed markets would be in rural or urban areas, Ewon said proposals have been received for both types of locations. 'The four MPs who submitted requests included locations in the interior. I believe these areas also deserve to be prioritised, but the final decision will come after discussion with the state government,' he said. Separately, Ewon said the ministry also held a consultation session today with Sarawak government representatives on the proposed amendments to the Cooperatives Act. The session included participation from senior Ministry of Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives officials, the Malaysian Cooperative Commission, Sarawak Deputy Ministers, state assembly members, and civil servants. 'We presented the proposed provisions of the new Act, and Sarawak has submitted its views and suggestions. This is part of our nationwide engagement process. 'We aim to table the new Cooperatives Act for first reading in Parliament at the end of this year, followed by second and third readings in the March session next year,' he said. Ewon said the new Act will focus on strengthening cooperative operations and enhancing the role of the Malaysia Cooperative Societies Commission as the main regulatory agency. Also present during the visit were Sarawak Deputy Minister of International Trade, Industry and Investment, Datuk Dr Malcolm Mussen Lamoh; Ministry of Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives secretary-general Dato Sri Khairul Dzaimee Daud; and Kuching South Mayor Dato Wee Hong Seng. Ewon Benedick expand Tamu Desa
Barnama
11-06-2025
- Business
- Barnama
Ministry Studying Tamu Desa As Model For Rural Entrepreneurship
GENERAL KOTA KINABALU, June 11 (Bernama) -- The Ministry of Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives is conducting a study on the Tamu Desa (rural market) project as a model for entrepreneurship in the interior, which is expected to serve as a key reference for future empowerment initiatives. Its Minister Datuk Ewon Benedick said the study, which runs from June to December, is being conducted by the Co-operative Institute of Malaysia (IKMa) Sabah branch, in collaboration with Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS). 'IKMa has already begun the study by appointing research officers from both IKMa and UMS to conduct field studies at tamu desa sites, focusing on community participation and the potential of using the cooperative model to manage and develop entrepreneurial activities,' he said in a statement today. According to Ewon, the study is significant as it will provide valuable input to his ministry in formulating relevant policies and decisions, particularly in areas such as maintenance, marketing, and networking among tamu desa premises. IKMa Sabah senior training officer and research team head Shamsiah Shamsudin said her team will also conduct research at night markets in Peninsular Malaysia and Sarawak to assess the success of cooperatives in managing these markets. -According to her, the comparative study is important as the concept of night markets closely mirrors that of Tamu Desa. Insights from night markets in Peninsular Malaysia can therefore inform the development of the more traditional Tamu Desa in Sabah. The study will also explore the potential for cooperatives to introduce an internal microfinancing system as an alternative form of financial support within the community. 'Our goal is to encourage cooperatives to practise self-help within the community, so that the benefits are reinvested back into the community itself - reducing over-reliance on government assistance,' she explained. The study, which involves 80 respondents, is expected to provide a comprehensive overview of the cooperative model's potential in driving rural entrepreneurship development.
Daily Express
02-06-2025
- Business
- Daily Express
Kuskop to build more Tamu Desa premises in Sabah, Sarawak
Published on: Monday, June 02, 2025 Published on: Mon, Jun 02, 2025 Text Size: KOTA BELUD: The Entrepreneur and Cooperative Development Ministry (Kuskop) will build more Tamu Desa (rural market) premises in Sabah and Sarawak this year under a RM20 million allocation to empower rural traders and boost infrastructure. Minister Datuk Ewon Benedick ( pic ) said the allocation includes an additional RM10 million announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim during the Madani Rakyat programme in Tawau last month. He said the government successfully built or upgraded 98 Tamu Desa premises across the two states last year and hopes to match or exceed that number this year with the new funding. Ewon noted that 14 of the completed Tamu Desa facilities were in Kota Belud and highlighted their impact on small-scale traders, especially women, by providing comfortable trading spaces that double as venues for community activities. As of May this year, requests to build or upgrade such premises in Sabah alone total RM40 million, and Ewon said the initiative will continue into the 13th Malaysia Plan as part of the government's commitment to rural development and inclusive growth. * 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
