KUSKOP aims to produce more entrepreneurs from among ex-convicts, former drug addicts

KUALA LUMPUR,  May 19 (Bernama) --The Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Ministry  (KUSKOP) aims to produce more entrepreneurs from among ex -prisoners, former drug addicts and people with disabilities (PwDs), as well as youths,under the New Cluster Entrepreneurship Programme.

Its minister, Tan Sri Noh Omar said the programme, organised by Pertubuhan Rakan Ghullam Kembali (PERGAK) and launched today, was aimed at attracting them and provide them then with a second chance to return to the society.

He said various programmes had been carried out to help them, including through the National Entrepreneur Group Economic Fund (Tekun Nasional), fundings for ex-convicts and from the National Anti-Drug Agency (AADK), but received lukewarm response, which he believed due to less promotion.

“I hope with the cooperation of PERGAK and the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that will be signed with TEKUN, the programme will get better response and be more effective,” he told a press conference after officiating the programme at a hotel here today.

Noh said the ministry would discuss with PERGAK on setting the key performance indicators (KPIs) and targets to produce as many entrepreneurs from the groupd concerned.

 According to Noh,based on the TEKUN Nasional report as of  last April 30, it had disbursed a total of RM531,500 in loans to 35 former prisoners, apart from RM773,000  to 58 borrowers under AADK  and a total of RM65,000  to fiverecipients under the second chance financing scheme.

PERGAK functions as a non-governmental organisation (NGO) that will guide and supervise participants to help them live a better life as entrepreneurs in the society through the programme.

-- BERNAMA