KAPIT: Majlis Amanah Rakyat (Mara) was yesterday given a pack on the back by Kapit MP Datuk Alexanader Nanta Linggi for organising the ‘Mara Uptown Kapit’ to provide Bumiputera entrepreneurs here with a proper platform to operate their business.
Through the initiative, Mara allocates the back lane of the ‘Kedai Mara’ along Jalan Yong Mok Chai here as a venue for enterprising Bumiputera individuals to set up their trading stalls during Fridays to Sundays from 5pm to 12 midnight.
“I appreciate Mara for organising this programme which coincides with the Gawai Dayak celebration when the town is crowded with shoppers,” he said at the launching of the programme yesterday.
Nanta also called on Mara and Sarawak Economic Development Corporation (SEDC) as well as other government agencies to provide more space for Bumiputera entrepreneurs to trade here.
On ‘Mara Uptown Kapit’, he expressed confidence that with bigger space more Bumi traders would be able to participate in the programme.
“Today, there’re only 20 stalls. I was told that some 100 applied but only 20 were selected due to limited space,” he said.
Also present during the launching were Mara state director Shazali Salleh, Mara officers Jemie Menchol (in charge of Sibu) and Alfitri Rahman (in charge of Kapit), district officer Elvis Didit, Pemanca Badi Nuawi, Pemanca Tan Kian Hoo, Special Affairs Department (Kemas) supervisor Ambrose Abong, Kapitan Yong Thu Fook and Bumiputera Commerce and Industry Kapit chairman Bangsa Untang.
When contacted, Alfitri said the programme was the first-ever organised in Kapit and the second in Sarawak, following the success of the first one in Limbang last year.
According to him, the objectives of the programme are to provide small and enterprising Bumiputera traders with an opportunity to venture into business with small investment, besides serving as a training ground for them to acquire business knowledge and skill where they are encouraged to sell their home-made products like honey, traditional handicraft
and cakes.
Meanwhile, the stall rental per night is only RM15, said programme co-ordinator Zulaini Junaidi.