THE proposed establishment of a coordinating committee co-chaired by a State Minister and the Minister of Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives could better serve and assist the people of Sabah in accordance with the direction of the State Government.
This was among matters discussed during Entrepreneur Development and Cooperative Minister Datuk Ewon Benedick’s courtesy call on Sabah Finance Minister Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun at Menara Kinabalu, Kota Kinabalu, on Mar 27.
During the meeting, Ewon briefed Masidi on the various agencies at the Federal ministries that offer services and assistance to Sabah, especially on entrepreneurial development.
Both ministers agreed that Sabah should consider emulating Sarawak’s move to set up a single Federal-State coordinating committee co-chaired by a State Minister and the Minister of Entrepreneur Development and Cooperative, where officers of all the agencies are represented during periodical meetings.
Masidi said the committee would also act as a one-stop secretariat to disseminate relevant information to all Sabahans so that they can make full use of the services and assistance offered by Federal agencies.
According to Ewon, there are 66 Federal agencies involved in entrepreneurial development, each with its own budget allocation, initiatives and programmes catering to their respective target communities.
“Such a committee should streamline all of them to better serve and help the people in Sabah in line with the State Government’s direction.
“However, the setting up of this committee requires the State Cabinet’s decision and I sincerely hope that the matter will be brought up for discussion and a decision can be made soon.
“On my part, I will give full support and cooperation to the State Government to support the State’s agenda,” said Ewon.
