Initiative to attract young Kadazan Dusun Murut Rungus to become entrepreneurs
Published on: Wednesday, May 31, 2023
By: Larry Ralon
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Ladislaus said it is important to change the mindset of young KDMR who would normally be asked by their parents to look for job instead of starting a business after they finish school.
PENAMPANG:The Kadazandusun Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) launched an initiative to attract young Kadazan Dusun Murut Rungus (KDMR) to become entrepreneurs after they finish school.
The initiative, targeted at school children in Form 5, was launched last week with an inaugural talk on entrepreneurship held for 30 Form 5 students and teachers from Sekolah Menengah (SM) St Michael, Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan (SMK) Datuk Peter Mojuntin and SMK Bahang at Wisma KCCI, here.
KCCI President Datuk Ladislaus Maluda said the initiative was to inculcate awareness of entrepreneurship among young KDMR early.
“This is in line with KCCI’s effort to create more entrepreneurs among the KDMR community.
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“Our focus in this initiative is our KDMR schoolchildren. But first, we will focus on students in Form 5 because they would be leaving school in a year or two.
“It is important for them to know about entrepreneurship which is a good choice for their future,” he said Monday, adding KCCI launched the initiative after a few months of studying the matter.
Ladislaus said it is important to change the mindset of young KDMR who would normally be asked by their parents to look for job instead of starting a business after they finish school.
“During this ever competitive world, probably only 30 per cent of our young KDMR would be able to for further their studies while the rest would have to look for jobs and probably only a very small number if there is would be looking at opening a small business.
“It is common among KDMR parents to ask their children to get a job with a steady income instead of becoming an entrepreneur.
That is why we are doing this initiative to change such mindset and inculcate awareness of entrepreneurship among our young KDMR,” he said.
He said by doing business, young KDMR would also be able to create job opportunities and also pass their business later on to their children and the subsequent generation, adding they could be like the Chinese who are very good in business.
“The Chinese started as labourers in this country before they developed themselves as businessmen and their businesses lasted for generations...it took the Chinese over 100 years to develop themselves and look at who they are today,” he said, adding it is their hope in KCCI to see more KDMR be successful as entrepreneurs.
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When asked about the KCCI members, Ladislaus was happy to share that about 80 per cent of the KCCI members now are entrepreneurs who are doing real business, not like when the chamber started about 20 years ago when mostly about 70 to 80 per cent of the members were contractors who depended on government projects.
“KCCI members have evolved and we want to keep the momentum going through this initiative,” said Ladislaus, who is in the hospitality business.
About the inaugural talk, he said it has received a very encouraging response from the participating students and teachers, adding the teachers were even hoping a similar talk can be held involving even larger participants in their respective schools.
“The teachers were hoping we can do it with larger participants,” he said.
Besides the talk, Ladislaus said KCCI has also set up a special counter at Wisma KCCI to boost the effort to inculcate awareness of entrepreneurship among the young KDMR.
“We are also going to create a lab on this after this Kaamatan,” he said.