Kota Kinabalu: The Ministry of Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives (Kuskop) disbursed a total of RM813.4 million to 53,395 micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and cooperatives in Sabah throughout 2024.
Minister Datuk Ewon Benedick said the funding was disbursed through Kuskop agencies, including Amanah Ikhtiar Malaysia (Aim), Tekun Nasional, Bank Rakyat, SME Bank, SME Corp, Pernas and the Malaysian Cooperative Commission (SKM).
He said the National Entrepreneurship Institute (Insken) had also implemented 41 entrepreneurship training and guidance programmes in Sabah throughout the past year which benefited a total of 1,585 entrepreneurs.
“Kuskop has also introduced a special Ehsan @ Kuskop programme to assist efforts to eradicate poverty in Sabah.
“For this purpose, Yayasan Bank Rakyat has channelled an allocation of RM3 million for the implementation of the programme, starting this year.
“Among the initial districts we have identified for our pilot project are those having high poverty rates, namely Kudat, Kota Marudu and Kota Belud, and efforts are being made to provide educational assistance to school students among e-Kasih, especially in the three districts,” he said when speaking at the Sabah 2025 Media Appreciation Night, here, Monday.
According to Ewon, who is also Penampang Member of Parliament and Kadamaian Assemblyman, of the total funding disbursed in Sabah throughout the past year, the total funding in the Penampang parliamentary constituency amounted to RM20.95 million, which benefited 478 SME entrepreneurs and cooperatives.
“Meanwhile, for Kadamaian, RM16.58 million was disbursed to 1,683 entrepreneurs and SMEs throughout the past year,” he said.
He added that the Look East Policy in the Country: Kuskop Perspective has also been introduced to provide additional focus on Sabah and Sarawak.
“Without affecting the existing focus of the Ministry nationwide, Kuskop has outlined an additional focus for East Malaysia, namely Sabah and Sarawak, especially in the context of entrepreneurship development.
“Therefore, among the new initiatives introduced by Kuskop specifically for PMKS entrepreneurs in Sabah are the Tamu Desa Premises Project, the Tamu Entrepreneur Financing Scheme and the Sabah and Sarawak Bumiputera Entrepreneur Grant under the Bumiputera Enterprise Enhancement Programme (Beep) Plus,” added Ewon.
He said throughout the past year, a total of 54 Tamu Desa sites were newly built and upgraded throughout Sabah with a total allocation of RM10,286,998.36.
“Beep Plus RM8.39 million which benefited 113 companies and SPUT RM3,563,000 with 893 entrepreneurs receiving financing from the scheme.
“In terms of coordination mechanisms, Kuskop has strengthened cooperation with the Sabah Government through the formation of the Sabah Entrepreneurship Development Coordination Committee and the District-Level Entrepreneur, Cooperative, Hawker and Small Trader Development Council.
“In addition, to increase access to information, Kuskop agencies such as Insken, Pernas, Bank Rakyat, Tekun Nasional and SKM have opened and increased the number of their respective agency branches in Sabah, including the proposed opening of a PMKS hub in Sabah by SME Corp,” he said.
Meanwhile, Ewon also appreciated the role of the media in publicising all government initiatives, especially Kuskop, to the community.
He presented certificates of appreciation to all media agencies that were invited and assisted in promoting the delivery of Kuskop services.
