TELUPID, Sabah (Malaysia), 26 Okt 2025 – Malaysia’s Minister of Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives, Datuk Ewon Benedick, has instructed all agencies under his ministry to scale up efforts in driving entrepreneurship development in rural and interior regions, stressing that these communities must not be left behind in the nation’s economic growth agenda.
Ewon said broader access to financing, capacity-building and market opportunities must be extended more aggressively to rural entrepreneurs, who face unique challenges such as higher operating costs and logistical limitations. He added that greater on-the-ground engagement by ministry agencies is essential to ensure inclusive economic participation and to address poverty more effectively.
“The facilities and support provided by the ministry must reach entrepreneurs in areas such as Mukim Nangoh and other remote districts nationwide. I want KUSKOP and its agencies to be physically present in these areas to drive entrepreneurship and cooperative movements as platforms for economic empowerment,” he told reporters after officiating the TEKUN Nasional Entrepreneur Engagement Programme in Telupid, held at Dewan Kampung Gana Jati, Nangoh.
As of 2025, TEKUN Nasional disbursed a total of RM109 million to 2,006 entrepreneurs in Sabah, including RM8.5 million to 207 entrepreneurs in Telupid over the same period. Ewon explained that these efforts form part of his Domestic Look East Policy, introduced two years ago, with Sabah and Sarawak positioned as priority beneficiaries in the national economic development framework.
Key initiatives introduced under the policy include the Tamu Entrepreneur Financing Scheme (SPUT) by TEKUN Nasional to support traditional market traders in Sabah and Sarawak; the Bumiputera Entrepreneur Enhancement Programme (BEEP Plus) by SME Corp to strengthen local small businesses; and the Desa Market Project aimed at upgrading traditional rural market infrastructure, which received an additional RM20 million allocation under the 2026 National Budget.
“Traditional markets remain the economic backbone of rural communities. By upgrading this infrastructure, we are strengthening the rural trading ecosystem while improving economic welfare,” he added.
The event also featured the presentation of the TEKUN Nasional Entrepreneur Excellence Awards and the disbursement of financing to local entrepreneurs, alongside a dialogue session to address issues and opportunities in entrepreneurship and cooperatives in the area.
Among those present were KUSKOP Secretary-General, Datuk Sri Khairul Dzaimee Daud; TEKUN Nasional Chairman, Datuk Abdullah Sani Abdul Hamid; TEKUN Nasional Chief Executive Officer, Datuk Adam Abd. Hamid; as well as senior officials from the ministry and its agencies.
