KUSKOP Spends Almost RM3 Billion To Empower Bumiputera Entrepreneurs Since 2023 - Sim

KUALA LUMPUR, June 30 (Bernama) -- The Ministry of Entrepreneur and Cooperative Development (KUSKOP) has spent nearly RM3 billion to implement various specific programmes to empower Bumiputera entrepreneurs from 2023 to 2025.

Minister Steven Sim Chee Keong said the effectiveness of the expenditure was measured through several outcome indicators, including an increase in sales of at least 20 per cent among participants and 150 companies successfully increasing the size of their respective businesses.

"Regarding the government's return on investment, the ministry measures the effectiveness of the empowerment programme and overall expenditure but from various outcome indicators or tangible results for participants," he said.

Sim said this when answering a supplementary question from Datuk Seri Dr Zaliha Mustafa (PH-Sekijang) regarding the allocation spent by KUSKOP for the Bumiputera empowerment programme as well as the return to the government measured through job creation during Question Time in Dewan Rakyat today.

According to him, for the first five months of this year, the ministry has approved financing worth RM5 billion which has benefited nearly 180,000 entrepreneurs of various races and business categories nationwide.

He said for the period 2025 to May 2026, a special programme for Bumiputera entrepreneurs through agencies under KUSKOP has approved financing totalling RM1.407 billion to more than 53,000 Bumiputera entrepreneurs.

“Of that total, a total of 11,469 Bumiputera youths have received benefits with an allocation of more than RM251 million,” he said.

He said the ministry is also implementing elements of halal industry development through various programmes under its agencies to help entrepreneurs obtain halal certification to expand the market.

Commenting on the proposal by Datuk Mas Ermieyati Samsudin (PN-Masjid Tanah) regarding a national database system or ‘single window’ mechanism for coordinating assistance to micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), Sim said KUSKOP had appointed SME Corp Malaysia as the coordinating agency.

“SME Corp is being made a one-stop-centre to coordinate in terms of financing, grants, funds and other support systems. SME Corp plays a role in facilitating the provision of information, channeling applicants and also PMKS who ask or seek resources to the appropriate agency.

“KUSKOP also plays an initiative to develop a website or one-stop-centre portal where we list various types of support provided by more than 60 government agencies,” he said.

-- BERNAMA