KUALA LUMPUR: The government has outlined several initiatives under the Strategic Programme to Empower the People and Economy (Pemerkasa) to support women entrepreneurs, empower youth and care for persons with disabilities.
Among the initiatives include RM30 million for Small and Medium Enterprises (SME), the Micro SME e-Commerce Campaign and Shop Malaysia Online programme aimed at providing greater opportunities for women entrepreneurs to access online markets and expand their businesses.
Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said Bank Simpanan Nasional (BSN) will provide RM50 million for the PEMERKASA-NITA Micro Financing Scheme to encourage women entrepreneurs to venture into business.
"In addition, an allocation of RM10 million through a 70 per cent matching fund will be provided for women entrepreneurs and self-employed women to subscribe to the Social Security Organisation (Socso) Self-Employed Social Security Scheme," said Muhyiddin in a special address on the rolling out on Pemerkasa aired on television today.
The prime minister said he was aware that employed Persons with Disabilities were also badly affected during this difficult period.
Hence, to alleviate their burden, Muhyiddin said the government had agreed to increase the maximum salary eligibility limit for Disabled Workers Allowance from RM1,200 to RM1,500 per month.
"For this purpose, an additional allocation of RM26 million will be provided, which is expected to benefit almost 5,000 Persons with Disabilities.
"In addition, to assist entrepreneurship programmes, including marketing baked goods and products, produced by the disabled and elderly, the government will provide an additional allocation of RM20 million to strengthen such programmes which come under the purview of the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry," he said.
Muhyiddin added through Pemerkasa, persons with disabilities will also have the opportunity to register and renew their businesses free of charge with the Companies Commission of Malaysia to encourage them to venture into entrepreneurship.
"BSN has provided RM25 million worth of financing for persons with disabilities to specifically set up their businesses under the ISTIMEWA Microcredit Scheme, with a financing limit of up to RM50,000 at an interest rate of three per cent," he said.
The government, he said, has introduced an eBelia programme to promote cashless transactions among the youths, particularly those aged between 18 and 20, in addition to full-time students at higher learning institutions.
"I am pleased to announce that the programme will be improved by increasing the credit amount from RM100 to RM150, which will benefit two million youth, with a total allocation of RM300 million.
This programme will be implemented beginning June this year," he said.
To encourage the participation among youth in urban areas to venture into entrepreneurial projects, Muhyiddin said the Pemerkasaan Ekonomi Komuniti Bandar programme will be expanded with an additional allocation of RM10 million, bringing the total allocation for this year to RM21 million.
Some 1,800 participants will benefit from entrepreneurship training and equipment, which will be provided free for them to undergo training.
"Apart from that, the Tunas Usahawan Belia Bumiputera (Tube) programme will be given an additional allocation to produce some 250 new Bumiputera entrepreneurs.
"At the same time, the New Gen Entrepreneur Online Bootcamp programme (N-GENE) will be introduced for the purpose of preparatory training and online business coaching for some 2,000 youth entrepreneurs.
"BSN will also offer the PEMERKASA-Belia micro credit financing scheme, with an interest rate as low as three per cent to enable youth to venture into business, with financing of up to RM50,000," he said.