KOTA KINABALU: Fifty-two-year-old Norma Ungus may only be selling vegetables in Kg Kopungit to make ends meet, but she is already drawing up plans to diversify her business. On Saturday, Norma and 53 other housewives and single mothers in the village learnt how to weave ornaments on a food cover, thanks to a programme organised by the Kota Kinabalu Family and Women Development Council, here. "The cost is not that expensive. Maybe around RM6.50 as capital, while I am confident to sell it for RM10," she declared on her newfound craft.
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The single mother of two had been at the village community centre since 9am along with the others, and by noon, she had already mastered the food cover weaving basics, which she described was "tricky at first, but I could do it with more practice." Kota Kinabalu Umno Deputy Chief Datuk Fatimah Shara Mohd Noor said women entrepreneurs at present need to have the business edge to remain resilient in the present competitive market.
"With the 1Malaysia concept introduction, the Government has become more open in its economic opportunities, hence bumiputera risked being left behind as businesses are getting more competitive," she warned during the closing ceremony of the programme. Fatimah said bumiputera could no longer lament their situation or pass judgement on the success of others, but need to double their effort to attain a position in the economy.
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"Entrepreneurs need to enhance their skills and capacity to survive in business and no longer be controlled by outdated norms, which are against progress," she said.
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For women, she said although they had been known to be more enterprising, they need to step up their game in business.
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"This culture must continue, adjustments need to be made to adapt to the present market. Huge changes have come into the products and services line, including the size of businesses," she said.
