Gov't Continues Support For Street Vendors, Hawkers Through Empower PPK Programme

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 20 (Bernama) -- The capacity-building, mentorship, and business digitalisation programme for street vendors and hawkers continues to be implemented through entrepreneurship coaching sessions, such as the Vendor and Small Business Empowerment Seminar (Empower PPK).

Deputy Minister of Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives (KUSKOP), Datuk Seri R. Ramanan, said the ministry trained 618 vendors and small traders under the Empower PPK programme last year.

As of June this year, KUSKOP, in collaboration with its agencies and strategic partners, has rolled out the programme in Sabah and Putrajaya, benefiting 210 vendors and small traders.

“The allocated budget for the Empower PPK programme for 2024 and 2025 is RM60,000.

“While the allocation is modest, we have formed numerous collaborations with agencies like TEKUN Nasional, Bank Rakyat, SME Corp, and the National Entrepreneurship Institute (INSKEN),” he said during the question and answer session in the Dewan Rakyat today.

Ramanan said this in reply to a question from Datuk Muslimin Yahaya (PN-Sungai Besar) about the ongoing status of the programme and the funds distributed to participants.

He highlighted INSKEN's partnership, which has helped vendors and small traders boost their capacity and digitalise their businesses through initiatives like the Product Development Coaching Programme (PDC) and Money Management Mentoring Programme (MAC).

"This year, 288 participants have benefited, with an allocation of RM565,996. Overall, INSKEN’s mentoring programme has supported 1,256 entrepreneurs with a total allocation of RM4.089 million," he said.

In addition, Bank Rakyat has provided financing to 827 vendors and small traders, amounting to RM5.6 million as of July this year, while TEKUN Nasional has allocated RM3.506 million for the Online Financing Scheme, benefitting 390 small and informal traders.

To a supplementary question from Muslimin regarding KUSKOP’s commitment to increasing digitalisation support for B40 entrepreneurs in Budget 2026, Ramanan confirmed the ministry's request for additional funding.

“The ministry has also sought additional funds for capacity-building initiatives for vendors and small traders. Furthermore, an impact study is being conducted through INSKEN to continuously offer skills training and capacity development," he added.

-- BERNAMA