By VANES DEVINDRAN
vanes@thestar.com.my
KUCHING: The state will soon have a tourism wholesale organisation that will link all sector’s players in the state towards making the industry flourish through a concerted effort.
Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud said this way, even the smaller entities such as the bumiputra entrepreneurs, could have the support needed to make it.
He said he would want this for each of the other business sectors in Sarawak as well, as this collaboration would see all players lending their focal strengths to the industry.
Launched: Taib, Nor Mohamed with Husni (left) and Sarawak Bumiputra Entrepreneurs Chambers of Commerce chairman Datuk Abang Helmi Ikhwan (right) at the launch of Jejak 2012, in conjunction with the Sarawak Bumiputra Economic Congress in Kuching.
“We already have a general approach to things, but what we want now is a sectorial approach. We need focus on how we go about things and through this, the businesses can share advice and ideas with each other,” he told reporters after launching “Jejak 2012”, an initiative by the Unit Peneraju Agenda Bumiputera (Teraju) here yesterday.
Beginning with the tourism industry, he said the wholesale organisation could take note of suggestions and ideas from all players and probably come up with better packages.
He believe that from the feedback, the organisation would have a clearer picture on good destinations and products.
“It also sees a joint effort from all so the operations will not be a scattered one. Like those who sell handicrafts or other products, they will have some sort of agreement with hotels and airlines so all can benefit,” he explained.
Earlier in his speech, Taib said the bumiputras were already making it on their own especially where eco-tourism was concerned simply because they came from the rural areas that had already possessed such natural attractions.
Citing the community in Ulu Baram, he said some were even promoting tourism in their area via online.
However, he said such ability or drive were still lacking in other parts of the state; hence the set-up of the tourism wholesale organisation.
He felt it was crucial for those budding entrepreneurs to gain knowledge and advice from their bigger counterparts, adding that this would serve both sides well in the long run with the boom in the industry.
“Same goes to the cottage industries where an organisation among themselves could be set up to ensure consistency of standards and quality in all members’ products,” he said.
Taib also pointed out that it was no surprise that the bumiputras were still lagging behind in the business world because in the past, the community did not have a say in the economy.
He said whereby the non-bumiputras who were mostly immigrants, already had years of experience given that their forefathers were also doing business as a means to survive in a foreign land.
“We are not challenging the non-bumis here, but rather to emulate them so that we too, can come up as successful entrepreneurs,” he said.
As such, he said there must be an integrated drive with a strong understanding of the business world among the bumiputras.
This, he said, would make the community aware on ways to utilise the assistance available to them and pursue a sector that would give them better gains.
He also commended Teraju for taking steps to highlight this in order to boost the bumiputras’ involvement in the nation’s economy.
