Two ministries hold Budget 2025 dialogue

KOTA KINABALU (Aug 25): The Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Ministry and Domestic Trade and Cost of Living ministry held a dialogue on the Budget 2025 that is scheduled to be tabled in Parliament in October.

It was held at ITCC Penampang near here on Sunday and in attendance were Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Minister Datuk Ewon Benedick and Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Minister Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali.

This dialogue session is an initiative by the ministries to gather input and suggestions from stakeholders and industry players to be presented to the Ministry of Finance.

“Thank you to Datuk Armizan for agreeing to collaborate on holding this dialogue with my ministry. This sends a message that we are ready to listen to and elevate the people’s views,” Ewon said in his speech at the dialogue session.

Ewon disclosed that his ministry had previously conducted a dialogue session in Kuala Lumpur on August 6, an engagement session with representatives of hawkers’ and small traders’ associations at the ministry’s premises in Putrajaya on August 19, and during the National Entrepreneur Development Council (MPKN) meeting at the Royale Chulan Hotel Kuala Lumpur on August 20.

“With ideas and input from various parties, I am confident that we can refine our strategies to achieve the best outcomes for the people through Budget 2025,” he said.

He added that this year, through Budget 2024, following the engagement session held on September 7, 2023, his ministry managed to secure special allocations for the implementation of the Tamu Desa Development Project in Sabah and Sarawak.

“A total of RM20 million has been allocated for the Tamu Desa Development Project in Sabah and Sarawak, which is currently being carried out to upgrade or build new tamu desa,” he said.

Approximately 400 participants, representing entrepreneurs, hawkers, small traders, associations and cooperatives from Sabah and Sarawak attended this dialogue session.

Among the suggestions put forward by the participants were additional allocations for the Tamu Desa Project in Sabah and Sarawak, continued funding for the Bumiputera Enterprise Enhancement Program (BEEP Plus) specifically for Sabah and Sarawak, and improvements to existing programs and funding for cooperatives.

Also in attendance were the Budget 2025 Team from the Ministry of Finance led by Thiagu Vadivalu, heads of agencies, and senior officers from both ministries.