PENAMPANG, 5 August 2025 – A total of 184 Bumiputera entrepreneurs from Sabah and Sarawak have benefitted from the Sabah and Sarawak Bumiputera Entrepreneur Grant (BEEP PLUS) since its introduction in 2023, said Minister of Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives, Datuk Ewon Benedick.
The initiative, implemented by SME Corp Malaysia—an agency under the Ministry of Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives (KUSKOP)—is a matching grant programme aimed at supporting the growth and competitiveness of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in Sabah and Sarawak.
“BEEP PLUS is a targeted strategy I introduced under KUSKOP’s Domestic Look East Policy Perspective, which focuses on entrepreneurial development based on local challenges and needs in Sabah and Sarawak,” Ewon explained.
He made the remarks during a visit to six BEEP PLUS grant recipients operating in Penampang and Putatan, who each received grants ranging from RM20,000 to RM245,000.
Ewon added that the implementation of BEEP PLUS was further strengthened following an additional RM100 million allocation to SME Corp Malaysia after the announcement of the MADANI Economic Framework by the Prime Minister in 2023.
“To date, a total of RM15.68 million has been disbursed to 184 entrepreneurs, and feedback from the recipients indicates that the grants have contributed to higher productivity, increased sales, and helped manage business operating costs,” he said.
He also announced that a stakeholder engagement session with BEEP PLUS recipients will be held in Sabah this September. The session will serve as a budget dialogue platform and provide input for the mid-term review of the National Entrepreneurship Policy 2030.
In addition, Ewon reiterated the ministry’s commitment to continue the BEEP PLUS initiative under the 13th Malaysia Plan (RMK13) 2026–2030, as part of a broader agenda for the development of Anak Negeri and Bumiputera communities in Sabah.
Also present during the visit were SME Corp Chairman, Tan Sri Bernard Dompok, SME Corp Chief Executive Officer, Rizal Nainy, and SME Corp Sabah Director, Valentine Thomas.
