Youths taking part in a workshop held as a side event to myRezeki Fest 2014.
KOTA SAMARAHAN: Some RM20 million worth of prizes are up for grabs in the annual Rural Business Challenge (RBC) but sadly, not many Sarawakians are keen to enter the reality TV show which has been running since 2012.
Noting this, Deputy Rural and Regional Development Minister Datuk Alexander Nanta Linggi said while more than 1,000 entrepreneurs took part in the programme this year, very few were from the state.
“More so, the biggest win by Sarawak so far is RM300,000 this year,” he said during a press conference after opening ‘myRezeki Fest 2014’ at The Summer Mall here yesterday.
The prizes, according to Nanta, do not come in the form of cash but in kind such as equipment that could help expand winners’ businesses.
Divided into two categories, the challenge – open to rural entrepreneurs aged 18 to 40 – offers prizes ranging from RM200,000 to RM2 million.
“Many of our rural entrepreneurs do not know about the programme yet. We hope that this myRezeki event could help spread the news, so that we would see more Sarawakians enter the challenge next year,” Nanta said.
According to him, myRezeki serves as a one-stop centre for youths particularly the rural ones, to acquire information about education, entrepreneurship and employment opportunities.
“Our rural youths can just come and work on picking
the right course in pursuing their studies, or see what business opportunities are available.
“Our ultimate goal is getting these youths to be better prepared in contributing towards nation-building.”
Earlier, state Community Development Department (Kemas) director Abang Rabaee Abang Muhi said several government agencies and institutions of higher learning had been engaged to make the festival beneficial to all.
He added that his department sought to bring the event to the northern and central regions of the state, in reaching out to more rural youths.
Organised by the state Kemas, the event saw 25 booths lining up the central part of the mall’s ground floor, offering visitors various programmes and opportunities.
Five workshops on self-motivation and career matching were also conducted during the festival.
Among those present was Kota Samarahan MP Rubiah Wang.