Wednesday, 07 March 2012 11:32
KUCHING: Bumiputera entrepreneurs in Sarawak should take the advantage of the RM100-million allocation provided by the federal government to participate in the development incentives in the state.
The cal l came f rom Chief Minister Pehin Sri Haji Abdul Taib Mahmud who said those Bumiputera entrepreneurs who were still considered “weak” must strive even harder to become more successful in their businesses.
“In the world of entrepreneur ship and bus ines s, the Bumiputeras should not limit themselves to their own groups, but should instead try to reach out to the other groups or races who are already successful entrepreneurs,” he said.
He pointed out the significant weakness in Bumiputera entrepreneurs in that they lacked the benchmark and healthy competition for becoming more successful entrepreneurs.
“Successful ent repreneur s should be enviable in a positive way and those who have succeeded should become the benchmark and challenge for the self-development of other entrepreneurs.
“This is because in business, networking is crucial for achieving success, therefore, we should work together to help one another within a network of entrepreneurs to create synergies, resilience and competition,” said the Chief Minister in his keynote address at the launch of JEJAK 2012 and opening of the 6th Sarawak Bumiputera Economic Congress at a hotel here yesterday.
JEJAK 2012 is the initiative of the Bumiputera Agenda Coordinating Unit (TERAJU) of the Pr ime Minister’s Department.
Taib pointed out that in order to succeed, there was much work to be done by the community of Bumiputera entrepreneurs, but most important, they must prepare themselves with knowledge and specific knowledge of the businesses undertaken and the skills in management.
The entrepreneurs will not only have to do certain things to be successful, but must also refrain from doing certain things that can lead to failure, and in reality in the increasingly competitive world, only the best will be able to succeed.
“To inc reas e Bumiputer a ownership and control of the national economy, we need more Bumiputera entrepreneurs who really want to be the best,” he said, while stressing the fact that the government did not give special treatment or neglect its responsibility to Bumiputera entrepreneurs.
“With all sorts of help and encouragement given, young Bumiputera entrepreneurs should dare to come forward to prove that the Bumiputeras can also become successful businessmen and entrepreneurs,” he said.
On the tourism business sector, Taib urged Bumiputera entrepreneurs involved in tourism-related business to form a “Wholesale Tourist Organisation” to serve as a body to systematically and professionally standardise tourist packages and products on bigger scale.
“The (Wholesale Tour i s t ) Organisition can also offer advice, services or even financial assistance to the entrepreneurs,” he added.
Earlier, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Tan Sri Nor Mohammed Yackop announced an allocation of RM100 million from the federal government to fund development initiatives in Sarawak.
Also present were Deput y Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sr i Alfred Jabu, Tourism Minister Datuk Amar Abang Haji Johari Tun Openg, Second Minister Resource Planning and Environment Datuk Amar Haji Awang Tengah Ali Hasan, Assistant Minister of Resource and Planning Management Datuk Haji Mohd Naroden Majais, Presidents of Gabungan Ushawan Bumiputera Sarawak (GUBS) Datu Haji Abang Helmi Tan Sri Abang Ikhwan and Chief Executive Officer of TERAJU Husni Salleh.
