MIRI: Shop owners at Long Bedian Central Market who are yet to receive business tools under the Bumiputera Entrepreneurs Enhancement Programme (Putera) will get them by Aug 15.
“Transportation arrangement for the next delivery has been made with the latest date of delivery this August 15,” said secretary of village development and security committee (JKKK) of Long Bedian, Jok Eng Jok.
Jok, who is also chairman of Jukdian Bersatu Miri Berhad, said the tools would be the same as those given out earlier to other participants, disclosing that out of 40 shophouses in Long Bedian, 27 shopowners in the Central Market would receive the equipment.
He said the 27 shopowners were the first batch to benefit from the programme in Ulu Baram while other applications were still under process.
“Those in Long Bedian yet to make their applications can do so. Thus far, we only received around 10 applications for the next Putera assistance,” he explained.
According to Jok, the assistance was made following the request from residents during the first working visit by a team from State Financial Secretary’s Office to Long Bedian last year.
In a follow-up to that, he said a team from Sarawak Economic Development Corporation (SEDC) was sent there to make assessment.
Regarding the Putera programme, he said the State Financial Secretary’s Office would provide the financial allocation while SEDC would be the implementer.
The business tools given out are refrigerators and cooking utensils, and are aimed at enhancing the rural people’s entrepreneurship skills and income.
On behalf of the recipients in Long Bedian, Jok thanked the state government for its help, while urging the recipients to make full use of the tools to enhance their livelihood.