KOTA BELUD: Minister of Entrepreneurship and Cooperative Development Datuk Ewon Benedick has drawn inspiration from the Kadamaian Development Plan (2020-2035) to initiate implementation of the Tamu Desa Project in Sabah and Sarawak, starting this year.
He said previously, the Ministry of Entrepreneurship and Cooperative Development (Kuskop) had never built stalls or village guesthouses, only providing funding through the Ministry’s agencies.
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“But in the Kadamaian Development Plan, it clearly states the need to build more business spaces. I refer to the Kadamaian Development Plan as the people’s inspiration.
“I have made it a Ministry policy and am returning it to the people who need it,” he said after launching the Community Programme for Youth and Cooperative Beliawanis in conjunction with the Kaamatan Madani celebration at the Kampung Piasau Community Hall, Friday.
Benedict, who is Kadamaian Assemblyman, said the Kadamaian Development Plan, launched in 2020, now serves as a guide to all ministries, agencies and government departments to accelerate development in Kadamaian.
The study for the Kadamaian Development Plan involved 74 villages in Kadamaian and was conducted by the Sabah Research Institute (IDS) for six months in collaboration with the Kota Belud District Office and the Kadamaian Assemblyman’s Office during Ewon’s tenure as the State Rural Development Minister.
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“It is now a guide for me as a representative of the people to realise the aspirations or needs of villagers.
“For example, in Kadamaian, there are approximately 13 weekly and Community Guests utilised by hawkers and small traders who conduct business at least every week in their respective villages or sub-districts.
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“Now, as the Ministry responsible for the development of hawkers and small traders across the country, I am enhancing the existing initiative.
“The enhancement involves upgrading or providing more comfortable business spaces in rural areas,” he said.
Benedict acknowledged the necessity for commercial space and the significant demand from hawkers and small rural traders.
In response, he took the initiative to introduce the Tamu Desa Project.
“If in urban areas, these facilities are provided by the Ministry of Local Government and Housing, but in rural areas, I have to play an active role in providing support to them.
“In addition to funding initiatives through Tekun Nasional, Bank Rakyat, and Amanah Ikhtiar Malaysia (AIM), I also see the need to upgrade Tamu Desa.
“That’s why I have requested the Prime Minister and the Ministry of Finance to allocate funds to my Ministry for the introduction of the Project Village Guests,” he said.
Ewon said RM20 million was allocated to implement the Ministry’s new initiative. Of that amount, RM7 million was channelled for the first phase to upgrade or build 38 Tamu Desa that had been identified throughout Sabah.
“Among the Community Guests who receive the benefits of this project is Kampung Piasau,” he said.