KOTA KINABALU: Aspiring entrepreneurs were yesterday reminded that Tekun and Mara are giving out loans of up to RM10,000 to help them kick off their enterprise, next year.
Assistant Resource Development and Information Technology Minister Datuk Jainab Ahmad Ayid said during the first convocation ceremony for trainees at the Stella Beauty Salon and SPA at Le Meridien yesterday that those keen on starting a business are encouraged to apply for the loans.
She urged those who are successful in obtaining the loans to make timely payments to avoid being blacklisted.
“Being blacklisted will become a problem for you,” she told the graduates attending the ceremony.
In her speech, Jainab also commended five of the graduates for having started their own business.
“I am proud of this,” she told the graduates.
She also commended the trainer, Stella Beauty Salon and Spa and the graduates who have found jobs after completing their training.
She said the fact that the graduates have been employed after their training is testimony that there are plenty of jobs available for youths in Sabah and that they could easily secure jobs as long as they are not choosy.
On the beauty, hair and spa industries, Jainab said these could become lucrative careers and those skilled could venture into the film industry, medical spa and even eco-tourism spa, among others.
On another matter, Jainab also urged youths in Sabah who are keen on working outside the state to register with the Jobs Centre here.
She said employers who registered their vacant positions at the centre were vetted for their authenticity to safeguard the interest of youths applying for the positions.
“Do go through the proper channels. Don’t risk becoming a drug mule or get deceived by the sweet promises of agents,” she advised.
She said many youths from Sabah were employed by the hospitality industry in West Malaysia.
Meanwhile, a total of 60 trainees from the Stella Beauty Salon and Spa graduated in their respective beauty therapy and hairstyle courses yesterday.
Salon manager Stella Matuya said the trainees were dedicated in their training and she hoped they would continue to improve their knowledge following their graduation. She added that two of the trainees had already started their own hair salon in Kota Marudu, one in Papar, one in Beaufort and one in Kota Belud.
“And one of the trainees has also begun her business from home,” she said.
She said most of the trainees were keen on starting an enterprise on their own but were cash strapped.