Kuala lumpur: A total of 7,378 entrepreneurs in Kuala Lumpur and Selangor have benefited from various facilities provided by Majlis Amanah Rakyat (MARA) between 2024 and 2025. Deputy Minister of Rural and Regional Development Datuk Rubiah Wang announced that the facilities, estimated to exceed RM180 million, were channelled in the form of financing, business development grants, and entrepreneurship training.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, these facilities have enabled small and medium-scale entrepreneurs to market their brands and products abroad through MARA’s Gate to Global programme. Datuk Rubiah Wang highlighted that MARA plays a critical role not just as a financing agency but as a catalyst for building a sustainable Bumiputera entrepreneurial ecosystem.

The announcement was made during the MARA Entrepreneur Awards (AURA) ceremony for the Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur and Selangor held at the World Trade Centre Kuala Lumpur. During this event, 24 entrepreneurs from the regions were recognised as recipients of the state-level AURA awards across 12 categories.

Among the key categories were the Women’s Inspirational Entrepreneur Award, Best Brand Award, and MARA Entrepreneur Icon Award. A new category, the MARA MADANI Waqf Entrepreneur Special Award, was also introduced. The Selangor MARA Entrepreneur Icon Award was won by Zuraiman Baharum from Maxipura Sdn Bhd, an automotive services company, while the Kuala Lumpur MARA Entrepreneur Icon Award went to Sharizan Saad of Nats Catering Sdn Bhd.

AURA, organized biennially and alternating between state and national levels, represents the highest recognition of excellence within the MARA ecosystem.