The Ministry of Rural and Regional Development (KKLW) has allocated 291 motorcycles for young entrepreneurs in Sabah for its Mobile Entrepreneur Programme (Mobilepreneur@KKLW) under Budget 2017.

Its minister, Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri bin Yaakob, said 155 units of the motorcycle was provided through Giatmara while the remaining 136 units by Felcra Training and Consultancy.

The Mobilepreneur@KKLW programme is an initiative to assist young people from rural areas to start their own business with minimal capital without having to set up or rent a business premises.

Ismail Sabri said Mobilepreneur@KKLW began in 2016 when the Rural Transformation Programme was launched.

In 2016, he said the ministry had spent RM5 million to provide 500 motorcycles to entrepreneurs.

Last year, he said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak approved an allocation of RM30 million under Budget 2017 to produce 3,000 mobile entrepreneurs, of which 291 were in Sabah.

“In Budget 2018, the Prime Minister has approved another RM10 million to create 1,000 entrepreneurs under the Mobilepreneur@KKLW programme.”

Ismail Sabri said that at the presentation ceremony of the Mobilepreneur@KKLW motorcycles to the recipients in Sabah at Umno building here yesterday. The event was officiated by Chief Minister Tan Sri Musa Aman.

He said a total of 136 motorcycles were given to the recipients yesterday, comprising 108 men and 28 women, while the remaining 155 motorcycles by GiatMara would be delivered in due course.

He said the motorcycles and equipment were provided free of charge to the young entrepreneurs that have undergone certain skill-based trainings to enable them to conduct business without having to come up with capital or to set up a premises.

He said the recipients provided services such as electrical, automotive and air-conditioning repairs, tailoring or beauty services.

Ismail Sabri said the cost of assisting these young entrepreneurs were RM10,000 per person, which included RM5,000 for the motorcycle, RM4,000 for equipment and RM1,000 for training.

He added that the recipients would be monitored for six months where they would undergo training in financial and administrative management to ensure their business run smoothly.

He said recipients who failed to meet the requirements would have to return their motorcycles.

Ismail Sabri believed that the programme would produce more entrepreneurs, especially young people who lacked funds to kick start their business.

He also urged the recipients to be creative and leverage on social media to grow their business.

“This is only the first step. The next step is to work hard to open your own business premises one day,” he said to the recipients.

The 136 motorcycles were presented to young entrepreneurs from Batu Sapi (4), Beaufort (7), Beluran (1), Kalabakan (17), Kinabatangan (12), Kota Belud (2), Kota Marudu (9), Libaran (14), Papar (16), Pensiangan (30), Ranau (4), Sandakan (3), Sepanggar (2), Silam (2), Sipitang (1) and Tawau (12).

Also present were Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Yahya Hussin and Rural Development Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Radin Malleh.

Source:
courtesy of THE BORNEO POST

by Chok Sim Yee

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