KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak yesterday launched the RM200 million Dana Bumiputera Al-Ansar Lembaga Tabung Haji (TH) which aimed to strengthen and lift the economy of Muslim Bumiputera entrepreneurs in the country.
He said the fund, launched under the restricted investment account and syariah-compliant, was expected to help catalyse the development of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and compete at a higher level.
Najib said the fund would help the entrepreneurs in terms of working capital, contract financing and capital expenditure.
“I am confident TH’s efforts TH will not only help produce more entrepreneurs but also those already involved in businesses to move to the higher level.
“Hopefully, the SMEs would grow into big companies, list on the bourse and compete at international level,” he said at the launch of the fund at Parliament House here yesterday.
Also present were Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, Datuk Seri Jamil Khir Baharom; TH chairman, Datuk Seri Abdul Azeez Abdul Rahim; and, Bank Islam Malaysia Bhd chairman, Datuk Zamani Abdul Ghani.
He said the fund would give priority to sectors like halal food; oil and gas; education; health; agriculture; construction; and wholesale and retail. Najib said the fund, which would provide credit of between RM50,000 and RM1 million, would be disbursed by fund manager, Bank Islam.
Meanwhile, Najib said, the Bumiputera Development Agenda needed to be continued.
“The government has strengthened the Bumiputera community including widening the Skim Usahawan Permulaan Bumiputera; implement ‘carve-out’ policy in which big government contract was allocated to Bumiputera firms; and, the development of human capital,” he said.
Meanwhile, Najib urged the government-linked companies to follow TH’s move to launch the fund to help Bumiputera entrepreneurs. At a media briefing later, Abdul Azeez said Dana Bumiputera Al-Ansar was from profit profit made by TH.
“The profit is used as loans to help the Bumiputera entrepreneurs grow their businesses beside giving out higher dividends,” he said.
Those interested to apply for the fund could do so at Bank Islam branches nationwide, he said. — Bernama