KUALA LUMPUR: Successful entrepreneurs should help breed newer talents via the franchise concept.
Making the call, Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Minister Tan Sri Noh Omar also urged more youths to be trained as entrepreneurs or business partners, instead of just earning salaries as employees.
"My ministry is ready to inject capital, through Perbadanan Nasional Berhad (Pernas), into companies to train entrepreneurs, to reach this objective.
"Do not just think of oneself, or open a franchise only to enrich your children.
"Instead, create opportunities for new entrepreneurs.
"Such a concept would not only benefit businesses to expand its branches, but create budding entrepreneurs," he said at the opening of the 16th outlet of Roti by D'Tandoor at Jalan Damai, off Jalan Ampang last week.
At the event, Noh presented 200 food baskets, courtesy of Yayasan Prihatin Nasional (Prihatin) and the Federal Territory Islamic Religious Council, to the Cancer and Chronic Kasih Foundation (CCKF) and Malaysian Down Syndrome Association (MDSA) in conjunction with the International Day of Disabled Persons.
Prihatin also distributed haversacks containing school sundries to inmates of the Teratak Che Dah Orphanage.
Present were D'Tandoor Group of Companies chairman Datuk Abdul Malik Abdullah, Prihatin chief executive officer Datuk Mohd Aizuddin Ghazali and Prihatin board of trustees' chairman Prof Emeritus Tan Sri Sahol Hamid Abu Bakar.
Noh cited the initiatives by foreign fast-food chains that were successful with the entrepreneur and franchise concepts.
"I believe all small and medium industries and corporate organisations have a responsibility and role to play to ensure the welfare of the lesser fortunate.
Meanwhile, Malik said he had ventured out into the north Indian cuisine restaurant business by operating the D'Tandoor brand since 1984, offering employment to thousands.
Malik is also the economics and international advisor for Prihatin.
Also present at the event were Environment and Water Ministry secretary-general Datuk Seri Dr Zaini Ujang, Agriculture and Food Industries secretary-general Datuk Haslina Abdul Hamid, Mydin Mohamed Holdings Berhad managing director Datuk Wira Ameer Ali Mydin, CCKF chairman Datuk Dr Imi Sairi Ab Hadi, MDSA president Norhana A. Bakar and Teratak Che Dah Orphanage chairman Yahaya Abdullah.