Additional focus in Sabah, Sarawak under Madani govt – Ewon

KOTA KINABALU (Sept 19): The Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Ministry (KUSKOP) is committed to implementing additional focus tailored to the needs of entrepreneurs and cooperatives in Sabah and Sarawak under the Madani government.

Its minister, Datuk Ewon Benedick, said that among the additional focuses of KUSKOP are the Premis Tamu Desa Project, the Tamu Entrepreneur Financing Scheme (SPUT), the Sabah and Sarawak Bumiputera Entrepreneur Grant (BEEP Plus), the Craft Industry Financing Scheme, and the Cooperative Tourism Development Assistance (JEJAK Koperasi).

He added that KUSKOP also plans to develop SME Hubs in Sabah and Sarawak and stabilise the prices of goods through cooperative movements.

“The ministry and its agencies will continue to empower service access to customers nationwide while developing additional focuses suited to Sabah and Sarawak.

“The Prime Minister (Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim) has provided the space to advance the ministry’s direction in line with the Malaysia Madani agenda,” he said in his keynote speech at his ministry’s Talk Program “Look East Policy: KUSKOP’s Perspective” held at the Sabah Federal Government Administrative Complex’s auditorium.

Ewon also shared his vision as KUSKOP minister.

“Without undermining the existing focus of the ministry nationwide, I want to see additional attention given to East Malaysia, namely Sabah and Sarawak.

“While economic growth has been rapid in Peninsular Malaysia, it is now time for the domestic Look East Policy to be developed to further accelerate the economic potential of Sabah and Sarawak in tandem with the robust economies of neighbouring countries,” he said.

Ewon suggested that the Look East Policy could begin with KUSKOP.

He added that the Look East Policy is not just about introducing new financing schemes to entrepreneurs in Sabah and Sarawak but also bringing more ministry programs.

“Among the KUSKOP programmes implemented in Sabah and Sarawak last year and this year include the celebration of Cooperative Day and National Cooperative Month, the National Hawkers and Small Traders Day held for the first time in Sabah, and entrepreneur carnivals organised by KUSKOP agencies.

“We have also expanded the services of ministry agencies in Sabah and Sarawak through the opening of the National Entrepreneurship Institute (INSKEN) offices in Kota Kinabalu and Sarawak, the opening of new branches of Tekun Nasional, the Malaysian Cooperative Commission (SKM), and the Malaysian Cooperative Institute (IKMA), as well as new branches of the Mobile Bank and new ATM facilities of Bank Rakyat,” he said.

He added that the ministry has also appointed KUSKOP agency heads in Sabah and Sarawak from among local civil servants.

“The Borneonisation of federal public services in Sabah and Sarawak is one of the issues related to the Malaysia Agreement 1963 that is being addressed and discussed at all relevant levels, including the Malaysia Agreement 1963 Implementation Action Council (MTPMA63),” he said.

Ewon said that to further enhance the implementation of entrepreneurship programs in Sabah and Sarawak, the Sabah and Sarawak Entrepreneurship Development Coordination Committee and the District Council for Cooperative, Hawker, and Small Trader Development in Sabah and Sarawak have been established.