Kuala lumpur: The Ministry of Rural and Regional Development (KKDW) will evaluate proposals for specific support for professional entrepreneurs who want to open physiotherapy clinics in rural areas, said its deputy minister, Datuk Rubiah Wang. She noted that physiotherapy is a new proposal that could potentially be supported through the Majlis Amanah Rakyat (MARA) programme, in addition to existing schemes for the medical, dental, and pharmaceutical sectors.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Rubiah Wang highlighted that MARA has special programmes for professional entrepreneurs in various sectors, including medical, dental, and pharmaceutical, and that physiotherapy is a promising new proposal. "This programme also provides sponsorship or loans for doctors who wish to open clinics in urban and rural areas, as well as for several other professional sectors,' she stated during the oral question-and-answer session in the Dewan Rakyat.
In response to a supplementary question from Bakri Jamaluddin (PN-Tangga Batu) about creating a payment or grant scheme for setting up physiotherapy clinics in rural areas for the vulnerable or B40 groups, Rubiah emphasized that KKDW would also provide specific support to Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) graduates interested in entrepreneurship.
She elaborated that TVET institutions under the ministry have integrated entrepreneurship into their core studies, including techno-entrepreneurship diplomas, with 442 graduates and student sales from 2016 to 2025 reaching RM120 million. The assistance includes MARA's financing scheme, business premises facilities, incubation spaces, and training and guidance services to help TVET graduates start and grow their businesses.
Rubiah mentioned that since 2021, KKDW has been implementing the Start Right Programme (PSR) as a catalyst for youths, including TVET graduates, to venture into technical entrepreneurship. "This programme provides entrepreneurship training, equipment set, starting capital worth RM20,000, guidance, and monitoring for 24 months to ensure new entrepreneurs can generate sustainable sales revenue,' she added.