Kota belud: The Ministry of Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives (KUSKOP), through its agency TEKUN Nasional, has disbursed RM816 million in financing to more than 30,000 entrepreneurs nationwide between January and September this year. Minister Datuk Ewon Benedick highlighted that RM95 million of this amount was allocated to 4,150 entrepreneurs in Sabah.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, in the Kota Belud district alone, RM9.1 million in financing was disbursed to 287 entrepreneurs during the same period. Datuk Ewon Benedick expressed pride in the performance of the Tamu Entrepreneur Financing Scheme (SPUT), introduced in 2023 specifically for Tamu entrepreneurs in Sabah and Sarawak. The scheme has maintained a non-performing loan (NPL) ratio of only 0.5 percent, demonstrating the entrepreneurs' accountability in managing their financing.

The statement was made after the closing of the TEKUN Nasional and KUSKOP entrepreneur financing briefing for the Taginambur area. TEKUN Nasional managing director and chief executive officer Datuk Adam Abdul Ghani was also present at the event.

Additionally, Ewon noted that he has submitted a proposal for special programmes for communities and entrepreneurs in Sabah and Sarawak to be included under the 13th Malaysia Plan to the Ministry of Finance. He emphasized the critical role of small and medium enterprises and micro-industries as the backbone of the nation's economic development.