PMR 2025 DEMONSTRATES GOVT'S STRONG COMMITMENT TO ERADICATING HARDCORE POVERTY

KOTA KINABALU, May 5 (Bernama) -- The organisation of the Sabah MADANI Rakyat Programme (PMR) 2025, themed ‘Menoktahkan Kemiskinan Melalui Keusahawanan’ (Eliminating Poverty Through Entrepreneurship), underscores the government’s firm commitment to tackling hardcore poverty in a sustainable and impactful manner.

Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Minister Datuk Ewon Benedick said PMR focuses on empowering the people through entrepreneurship as a strategic mechanism to create income opportunities, generate employment, and promote social mobility, especially among rural communities and the B40 group.

“The Ministry of Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives (KUSKOP) is responsible for coordinating, spearheading, monitoring, and ensuring the smooth implementation of the PMR, together with the main secretariat, the Performance Acceleration and Coordination Unit (PACU) under the Prime Minister’s Office and the Sabah government as the host.

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“Through PMR, the government provides space and opportunity for the people to engage with the authorities, offer input, and voice their opinions so that public service delivery can be improved in line with the Public Service Reform Agenda,” he said in a statement today. 

PMR 2025 will be held at Tawau Municipal Council Square for three days beginning May 9. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is scheduled to close the event on May 11.

The public is invited to join the event from 9 am to 10 pm on Friday and Saturday, and from 9 am to 6 pm on Sunday.

At the closing ceremony, Ewon said the Prime Minister is expected to present the Sabah Entrepreneur Excellence Award to outstanding entrepreneurs from the B40 group (low-income households), who will subsequently receive assistance and guidance from KUSKOP agencies to help them become successful entrepreneurs.

He said a range of high-impact activities will be featured to ensure all segments of society benefit, especially in areas concerning public well-being, such as cost of living management, health screenings, social advisory services, and more.

A total of 36 booths representing ministries, the state secretary’s office, and various agencies will be set up, alongside the participation of 158 entrepreneurs under the MADANI Sales initiative.

“The PMR will also showcase four agencies with government asset exhibitions, a Career Carnival with 15 employers offering 608 jobs, and 64 on-stage engagement sessions, in addition to technical and vocational education and training (TVET) programmes,” he said.

He said seven satellite programmes will also take place around Tawau from May 3 to 11, including a gotong-royong (communal work) in Pulau Sebatik focusing on corporate social responsibility (CSR) projects such as refurbishing public futsal court, installing solar lights at the court and jetty area, and repairing the public library wall.

In addition, the KUSKOP Halal Success Programme at Tawau Community College aims to raise awareness on the importance of obtaining Malaysia’s halal certification and to expose micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in Tawau to business expansion opportunities.

“There is also the JOM@COOP Programme at Borneo Royale Hotel, Tawau, organised by the Tawau branch of the Cooperative Institute of Malaysia (IKMa), and another gotong-royong at the People’s Housing Project in Batu 8, involving futsal court upgrades and solar light installation,” he said.

He said KUSKOP is also introducing a new element with the launch of the One District One Industry (SDSI) showcase, an initiative focused on empowering local economic development by harnessing the unique potential of each district’s products.

“SDSI has proven successful in strengthening local communities. For instance, SDSI helped boost annual sales of the bird’s nest industry in Pitas by 33.4 per cent, from RM102,690 to RM137,016 within just six months of entering the market.

“In addition, SDSI has also assisted the ‘ikan liking’ (fermented fish) industry in Kota Belud, increasing its average annual sales by 20.44 per cent, from RM52,114 to RM62,765.20,” he added.

-- BERNAMA