Sarawak rural entrepreneurs embrace digital expansion through PPU

KUCHING (Aug 13): Sarawak’s rural entrepreneurs who participated in the Rural Entrepreneurs Digitalisation Programme (PPU) here yesterday are now setting their sights on expanding their businesses through digital means.

Among the 167 entrepreneurs those who took part in the programme was MM Crochet founder and owner Mazidah Mazlan, who conducts most of her sales through Facebook.

“I started this business after the pandemic when I had nothing to do. I had time to explore new opportunities and I learned how to crochet online,” she told The Borneo Post, adding she specialises in creating crochet bags and clutches.

The retired teacher said through the programme, she hopes to reach a broader market and for her products to gain more recognition.

She currently receives orders from Peninsular Malaysia and beyond, and has also been asked to place her products at a store in the Juma’ani Pavilion which is touted as Sarawak’s first fashion hub.

The PPU is an initiative implemented by the Ministry of Rural and Regional Development (KKDW) to bridge the digital gap by helping rural entrepreneurs increase productivity and product marketing efficiency.

A Bernama report stated that KKDW has set aside RM1.7 for the programme this year in an effort to provide direct and practical exposure to rural entrepreneurs transitioning to digital technology.

Deputy Rural and Regional Development Minister Datuk Rubiah Wang, who officiated the programme yesterday, said KKDW plans to conduct five series of the PPU this year with the aim of digitalising 1,200 rural entrepreneurs.

“Three series of the programme have already been carried out this year, in February, June and July, involving a total of 554 entrepreneurs,” she said.

Meanwhile, another participating entrepreneur, Juliea Shaffei, said it was her first time participating in the PPU.

“Before this, I only sold my products at the junction of my housing area and had not ventured into digitalisation.

“Joining this programme has helped me learn something about how to digitalise my business,” said the owner of Danila Catering, who currently operates from her home and takes orders through WhatsApp.

For Anas Popcorn founder Kawi Li, he began his business venture selling at night markets and has slowly expanded over the past decade.

He said he shifted to selling online in 2020, using social media and live-streaming on Facebook. This has helped him to not only reduce cost but reach a wider customer base.

“Through this PPU, I hope to learn to develop a system that can simplify ordering with just one click.

“Currently, we use an agent system to sell our products and have partnered with several convenience store franchises. We also have a few stockists in Sabah and Sarawak, but we hope to expand our business to Peninsular Malaysia as well,” he said.