CM: Build more business centres for rural traders

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NICE MEETING YOU: Taib is warmly welcomed by all at Kubah Ria. On his left is Hasan. — Photo by Kong Jun Liung

KUCHING: Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud wants more rural business centres to be set up across the state to help small-time traders develop and thrive.

Speaking at the state-level Hawkers and Traders Day celebration here yesterday, the Chief Minister said small-time traders played an important role in the nation’s economy, and thus their welfare must be well looked after.

“All businesses start from baby steps and small-time traders in the state have the potential to grow into large enterprises or groups. Our entrepreneurs in rural areas can do very well, especially in the food industry.

“Therefore, it is important we set up business centres in various parts of our rural areas for small-time traders to prepare and sell their food under one roof.

“These business centres should be modern, hygienic and safe for entrepreneurs to conduct their business,” he told over 100 hawkers and traders at Kubah Ria here.

Taib said although infrastructure in the state had developed over the years, small-time traders were still relevant in the rural areas to serve the needs of locals.

“Even if people can now afford to travel to towns to buy supplies, business in rural areas still matters because those traders know the needs of the rural people well.”

He urged those who had yet to sign up for the 1Malaysia Small-time Hawkers and Traders Insurance Plan (P1MPIN) to do so quickly.

“Accidents can happen anytime and anywhere. We do not want them to go bankrupt due to any undesired events.”

He also advised them to join non-governmental organisations (NGOs) that could defend their welfare.

Taib said the state government would continue to foster closer ties with hawkers and traders so as to better understand their problems and to offer solutions.

Citing Kubah Ria and Medan Niaga Satok as examples, Taib said the government had helped establish proper trading centres for hawkers and traders here to earn a decent living.

He noted that the number of small-time traders in the state was on the rise, and he believed this development would see more successful entrepreneurs emerging to spur economic growth.

Meanwhile, Minister of Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Dato Hasan Malek said the government had allocated yet another RM16 million for P1MPIN under Budget 2014 to benefit more hawkers and traders nationwide.

As of Nov 7, 2013, he said the ministry had received 21,432 applications for the Micro Fund Scheme, whose fund size is RM100 million.

Of the total applications, 337 were from Sarawak, and 319, or 95 per cent of them, were approved. The approved funds stood at RM2.3 million.

Apart from grants, Hasan said the government had come up with several initiatives such as 1Malaysia Hawkers Programme for hawkers and traders to enhance their business skills.

On P1MPIN, Assistant Minister in the Chief Minister’s Office (Bumiputera Entrepreneur Development) Datuk Mohd Naroden Majais said 15,306 hawkers and traders in the state had been insured as of Nov 11 this year.

He called on more hawkers and traders to register with local councils or the Inland Revenue Board (LHDN) in order to be eligible for the scheme.