Kota Kinabalu: The Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Ministry disbursed RM813.4 million to 53,395 micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) as well as cooperatives in Sabah throughout last year, said Minister Datuk Ewon Benedick. He stated that the allocations were provided to agencies under the ministry, such as Amanah Ikhtiar Malaysia, TEKUN Nasional, Bank Rakyat, SME Bank, SME Corp, Perbadanan Nasional Berhad, and the Malaysian Cooperative Societies Commission.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Institut Keusahawanan Negara also carried out 41 training and mentoring programmes for 1,585 entrepreneurs in Sabah. The ministry introduced Ehsan@KUSKOP, a programme aimed at eradicating poverty in Sabah, with Yayasan Bank Rakyat allocating RM3 million for this purpose. The programme will commence this year in Kudat, Kota Marudu, and Kota Belud, districts identified as having high poverty rates.

The Penampang MP mentioned the introduction of a domestic Look East Policy focusing on Sabah and Sarawak, particularly in entrepreneur development. New initiatives for MSME entrepreneurs in Sabah include the Tamu Desa project, the Tamu Entrepreneur Financing Scheme (SPUT), and grants for Sabah and Sarawak Bumiputera entrepreneurs under the Bumiputera Entrepreneur Programme (BEEP) Plus.

Last year, 54 new Tamu Desa sites were built and upgraded with an allocation of RM10,286,998.36. BEEP Plus received an allocation of RM8.39 million, benefiting 113 companies, while SPUT provided RM3.56 million in financing to 893 companies. KUSKOP has also strengthened cooperation with Sabah by establishing the Sabah Entrepreneurship Development Coordination Committee and the District Entrepreneur, Cooperative, Hawker, and Petty Trader Development Council.