Women entrepreneurs running stalls at a bazaar organised by Women’s Innovative Empowerment Network Group Sdn Bhd. Photo: LOW LAY PHON/The Star
WOMEN entrepreneurs, who include single mothers who need retraining to hone their skills and broaden their knowledge, say the People and Economic Strategic Empowerment Programme (Pemerkasa) stimulus package will boost all who need a helping hand in their business ventures.
The Kempen e-Dagang PKS (Micro and Small Medium Enterprises e-Commerce Campaign) and Shop Malaysia Online initiative, which has a RM30mil fund, is one example.
Entrepreneur Safiyya Azman said support from the government was of great help to women entrepreneurs to make the transition to the online market.
Suriati (left) and Noorasikin are keen to expand their business and helping more of their fellow residents at their flats. Photo: LOW LAY PHON/The Star
AS past recipients of a government grant, entrepreneurs Noorasikin Jailani and Suriati Sudin, both 30, welcome any additional aid to keep their businesses afloat.
The two, who run stalls selling homemade products from their fellow residents at the Damansara Bistari flats, are keen to apply for aid under the People and Economic Strategic Empowerment Programme (Pemerkasa) stimulus package in hopes of expanding their business besides helping their community.
“Having more capital will allow us to recruit more women entrepreneurs and market our products online, thereby supporting more families as many of us started business ventures to supplement our household income, ” said Noorasikin, who sells cookies and cakes.
PETALING JAYA: The aid and initiatives for the urban poor and vulnerable groups under the recent Pemerkasa stimulus programme are a welcome effort that’s much-lauded by the B40 community.
Pemerkasa – or the People and Economic Strategic Empowerment Programme – includes various provisions for these groups under the Bantuan Rentan Bandar (Aid for Urban Vulnerable Group) initiative.
Among those who hailed the initiative was former quality assurance supervisor Mohd Zaini Saleh, 54.
“In these trying times, many people have lost jobs and any aid will help the affected families. For instance, if there is food aid for one month, at least for that month they don’t have to worry so much about putting food on the table.
FEDERAL Territories Ministry will use the RM20mil allocation from the Federal Government for maintenance and upgrades of people’s housing (PPR) and public housing (PA) projects in the city.
Minister Tan Sri Annuar Musa said he and Kuala Lumpur mayor Datuk Seri Mahadi Che Ngah would meet the PPR and PA residents associations to find out their needs.
Annuar said consulting the residents for input was vital, instead of implementing what the authorities assumed would be good for them.
“We must do what the people want and not just what we want to do for them, ” he said.
He assured that approval for the necessary projects would be issued immediately to ensure the contractors’ work would not be delayed.
Pemerkasa a much-needed lifeline for employers, says MEF thestar.com.my - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from thestar.com.my Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.