Being entrepreneurs the trend
Published on: Tuesday, January 14, 2020
By: Hayati Dzulkifli
BONGAWAN: There is a growing trend of Malaysians venturing into small and medium-sized entrepreneurships (SMEs) which is in line with the Pakatan Harapan (PH) Federal government’s target to produce new 50,000 entrepreneurs every year.
Entrepreneur Development Deputy Minister Datuk Wira Dr Mohd Hatta bin Mohd Ramli said the Government aspires to produce a total of 250,000 new entrepreneurs in the country for five years beginning 2018.
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He said contribution of those doing SME businesses in the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) was 37 per cent in 2018 and rose to one per cent or up to 38 per cent recorded in 2019.
“Although the uprising trend only involved a small percentage, our GDP is also expanding. The 38 per cent contribution is significant and big because we are targeting to reach 50 per cent in 10 years’ time, which I believe we could achieve.
“Only then, our country can be categorised as a developed nation, to be like a developed nation in Europe where its contribution of SME entrepreneurs to their respective GDP is at least 50 per cent.
“Hence, I am positive that there will be a growing percentage contribution from the rising number of new entrepreneurs to the country’s GDP every year following a high interest among Malaysians, particularly those who are working to open up SME businesses to complement their monthly income,” he said.
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Dr Mohd Hatta said this to reporters after opening a workshop of baking cakes and biscuits at a community hall in Kg Seri Serbang, here, Monday.
A total of 50 women from nearby villages here took part in the half-day workshop jointly organised by NGO Wanita Impian Negeri Sabah (WINS) and Giat Mara.
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He said his ministry has recorded over 50,000 new entrepreneurs, last year, whereby about 35,000 are from Tekun and mostly are first-time borrowing the loan from the government agency that offers loans to locals who venture into SME businesses while the rest from Amanah Ikhtiar Malaysia (AIM), Pembangunan Usahawan Nasional Berhad (PUNB) and Giat Mara which he does not have the data on hand.
He said the micro-financing agencies like Tekun, and AIM play important roles to help and facilitate those Malaysians who wish to open up businesses in SMEs category by offering loans to them whom are facing difficulties to have business capitals.
On his observation of the business trends in Kimanis parliamentary seat, Dr Mohd Hatta, who is also Amanah Secretary-General, said he noted that many SME traders are operating their businesses at the road side from Kimanis up to Membakut.
“I saw quite a number of SME traders doing their businesses by the roadside. We perceive this situation as a tradition for the local communities where in certain season, the traders would generate good income and in some days, could be just average.
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