KUSKOP Upgrades 39 Tamu Desa Premises In Sarawak With An Allocation Of RM7.85 Mln

KUCHING, July 30 (Bernama) -- The Ministry of Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives (KUSKOP) has built and upgraded a total of 39 Tamu Desa (Village Guest) premises across Sarawak over the past year, with a total allocation of RM7.85 million.

Its minister, Datuk Ewon Benedick, said the project's implementation is being carried out in phases in collaboration with the local authorities (PBT) involved.

"This is a project that was first introduced by KUSKOP to improve guest markets in Sabah and Sarawak, starting in 2024, and we will continue this project for this year.

"For the project in Sarawak this year, we will discuss with the state government the implementation mechanism, taking into account the requests of several Sarawak Members of Parliament (MPs) who want stalls and tamu (markets) in rural areas to also be assisted," he told reporters after visiting the Tamu Sungai Apong premises here today.

He said the implementation of the Tamu Desa premises development project is among KUSKOP's ongoing commitments in empowering the rural community’s economy and encouraging the active participation of small entrepreneurs in the local economic system in Sabah and Sarawak.

He said he has received four applications from Sarawak MPs who want the initiative to be expanded in the state.

"I need to have a discussion first with Sarawak Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan to select a suitable location for this project," he said.

Meanwhile, Ewon said in a statement that for the Tamu Desa project in Sarawak, a total of 13 Tamu Desa projects have been implemented, costing RM1.99 million, and all of them involving Phase 1 have been fully completed.

Phase 2 involves 26 projects with an allocation of RM5.85 million, and ongoing projects include Tamu Semarak and Tamu Sukma, which are expected to be completed next month (August).

The statement said that the upgrading of the Tamu Sungai Apong was also carried out in two phases at a cost of RM416,000, with RM116,000 under Phase 1 and RM300,000 under Phase 2.

This initiative aims to strengthen the entrepreneurial ecosystem by providing a more conducive business infrastructure for rural entrepreneurs, particularly in Sarawak.

"Overall, a total of 100 Tamu Desa projects have been implemented in Sabah and Sarawak in two phases over the past year, namely 61 projects in Sabah and 39 in Sarawak," he added.

-- BERNAMA