Sarawak to introduce RM50 mln soft loans for women-led firms, young entrepreneurs

SARAWAK will introduce RM50 million in soft-loan facilities for women-led enterprises and young entrepreneurs under the 2027 Budget.

Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg said the two facilities, each worth RM25 million, had been approved through AFFIN Bank in collaboration with the state government.

“The RM25 million Soft Loan Facility for women-led enterprises would be administered by the Ministry of Women, Early Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development to support business expansion and innovation.

“A separate RM25 million Young Entrepreneurs Soft Loan Facility would be administered by the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Entrepreneur Development.

“Beyond physical infrastructure, it is imperative that we consolidate financing support for SMEs and MSMEs to enable them to upgrade their capabilities, and expand operations,” he said when tabling the Supply (2027) Bill, 2026 on Monday (Oct 12).

He said entrepreneurship was an important contributor to employment creation and household income growth, with small and medium enterprises (SMEs), micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and startups requiring both financing and business support to participate in higher-value economic activities.

Apart from the two facilities, he said RM9.49 million would be allocated to the Ministry of International Trade, Industry and Investment Sarawak (MinTRED) to continue implementing existing financing schemes.

“These include the Skim Kredit Mikro Sarawak, Skim Pinjaman Industri Kecil dan Sederhana and Special Relief Fund.”

He said coordination among stakeholders would be strengthened through the Sarawak Entrepreneur Development Coordination Committee (SEDCC), bringing together 81 agencies, financial institutions and state-owned enterprises.

“The committee would be supported by ENBASE, a digital platform for MSME data, while the JUM REGISTA BISNES initiative would assist informal micro-entrepreneurs in formalising their businesses and accessing wider opportunities.”

Beyond financing, Abang Johari said RM13.1 million would be allocated for entrepreneurship development programmes to strengthen business capabilities and prepare local enterprises for higher-value activities.

“These include Program Peningkatan Usahawan Bumiputera (PUTERA), Pusat Inkubator dan Bimbingan Usahawan (PIBU), Program Pembangunan Kontraktor dan Pembekal Bumiputera and Program Kontraktor Berdaya Saing.

“The allocation would also cover Graduan ke Arah Keusahawanan (GERAK), Usahawan Teknikal dan Vokasional (USTEV) and the Go Digital Programme.”

He said TEGAS would continue supporting innovation and digital adoption by connecting businesses with grant schemes and providing testbeds for startups to pilot new technologies.

“These efforts would involve collaboration with partners including Sarawak Forestry Corporation and the Malaysian Research Accelerator for Technology and Innovation.”

For youth entrepreneurship, he said RM1.2 million would be allocated to continue programmes such as BeliaGoBiz, Sarawak Emerging Entrepreneurs Drive (SEED), Youth Entrepreneur Setup 3.0 and Program Pemerkasaan Usahawan Belia.

“The programmes would provide exposure, mentoring, business formalisation, digitalisation and market access.

“Another RM3 million would be allocated to the SYstartUP Programme, which offers intensive training, mentoring, business coaching and access to government support programmes for high-potential youth enterprises.

“The programme would cover financial management, e-Invoicing, branding, Halal certification, intellectual property and artificial intelligence applications.”

Alongside financing and entrepreneurship development, Abang Johari said the state government would continue developing industrial parks and business premises to support local enterprises.

“A total of RM277.4 million had been approved under the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP) for the development of 25 industrial parks and 25 Anjung Usahawan facilities.”

Under the 2027 Budget, he said that RM36.6 million would be allocated for key industrial development projects, including the expansion of Demak Laut Industrial Park and Samalaju SME Cluster.

“The allocation would also cover the upgrading of the sewerage system and supporting infrastructure at Sama Jaya High-Tech Park.

“Other projects include infrastructure development for Sibu, Kapit, Bau and Rantau Panjang Industrial Park Phase 2.

“Funding would also cover earthworks for Lawas Industrial Park Phase 2 and Sebuyau Industrial Park, alongside design works for Limbang Industrial Park.”

Abang Johari said Anjung Usahawan projects were being progressively implemented across Sarawak to provide accessible business premises for local entrepreneurs to establish, expand and scale up their operations.

“The various financing, entrepreneurship development and infrastructure measures are intended to equip businesses, from rural youth to emerging enterprises, with the capital, skills and institutional support needed to grow and compete in higher-value sectors.”

Meanwhile, he also announced that the 50 per cent rental discount for stalls and business premises under local councils and statutory bodies would be extended into 2027.

“The initiative, first announced in April 2026 for hawkers and small entrepreneurs, would provide total discounts amounting to RM10.8 million next year.

“This measure has already helped thousands of petty traders and market stallholders reduce costs and sustain their livelihoods amidst rising expenses,” he said.