PAGOH (Oct 20, 2012): The government has allocated
RM16.1 billion since 2006 to improve the lot of small and medium
entrepreneurs (SME) nationwide, said Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri
Muhyiddin Yassin.
Source from (The Sun Daily): http://www.thesundaily.my/news/520453
Published: October 21, 2012
This effort is being continued in the 2013 Budget with more than RM1
billion set aside to further develop the group's business which includes
RM200 million for SMEs involved in the Halal industry and a RM16
million annual Group Insurance Scheme, he noted.
A licensing and franchising loan scheme was also provided to
modernise their businesses, he said speaking at the Entrepreneur and
Education Carnival at the Pagoh Sports Complex, organised by MARA
(Indigenous People's Trust Council), here today.
"We should be proud and grateful for all the government's efforts in
channeling assistance in various forms such as advisory, supply,
equipment and marketing services, as well as capital funding," he said.
Another programme in support of the SMEs, in particular traditional
grocery shops, was the Retail Shop Transformation Programme (TUKAR)
aimed at increasing such retailers' competitiveness, he added.
The government has allocated RM80 million for the TUKAR scheme
benefiting 522 shops, with an average increase in daily sales between 70
and 200 percent, he said.
Under the Entrepreneur Group Economic Fund (TEKUN) he said petty
traders, particularly Bumiputera, were provided with quick and effective
additional capital.
"Between 2008 and May 2012, TEKUN loaned RM1.35 billion to 135,000
traders nationwide, a 157 percent increase from RM523 million in 2003 to
2007,' he added.
According to Muhyiddin, Johor entrepreneurs were the second highest
to benefit from TEKUN at 11.4 percent (RM154 million) out of the total
amount for the period.
Speaking after the event, Muhyiddin who is also Education Minister,
advised teachers to ensure students used the proper language and
spelling in school as set by Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka.
"Our students appear to be rather influenced by SMS and Twitter
abbreviations. It's alright for casual communication but is a serious
issue in formal education. They must focus on the use of standard
language and spelling in school work," he emphasised.
Commenting on preparations to face the floods this year, he said all
departments and agencies concerned had been instructed to be fully
prepared for the natural disaster which was expected to occur earlier
according to the Meteorological Department.
Meanwhile, Rural and Regional Development Minister, Datuk Seri Shafie
Apdal who was also present at the event, told reporters that MARA
intended to create five main categories of entrepreneurs to face stiff
competition in the future. The five categories were, corporate, techno,
retail, manufacturer and independent contractor entrepreneurs, he said.
He said they would be developed through the 'Groombig' programme;
Mara Food Industry Complex in Gombak, Selangor for halal food producers;
Mara Food Technology Incubator in Kepong and Product Manufacturers Park
in Pedas, Negeri Sembilan. – Bernama
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