RM950.78 Million Disbursed to Over 44,000 Sabah Entrepreneurs and Cooperatives

Financing amounting to RM950.78 million has reached 44,059 cooperatives and entrepreneurs throughout Sabah up to September of the current year. The funding reflects government efforts to expand access to capital for micro, small, and medium enterprises across the region.

Financing Distribution and Reach Across Sabah

The financial assistance was channeled through the Ministry of Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives alongside its various agencies. This disbursement targets the growth and competitiveness of local businesses.

In a related development concerning the state’s cooperative movement, 16 cooperatives in Sabah received RM1.19 million in development assistance from the Malaysia Co-operative Societies Commission this year. An additional RM5.3 million was channeled under the commission’s Revolving Capital Fund to benefit two cooperatives.

Digitalization and Bureaucratic Reforms for Local Enterprises

Speaking at the Sabah-level Hebatkan Perniagaan Malaysia Carnival, Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Haji Hajiji Haji Noor emphasized that business owners need more than just monetary capital. Datuk Ewon Benedick, who serves as Deputy Chief Minister III alongside his role as state Industrial Development, Entrepreneurship and Transport Minister, read out his address.

Entrepreneurs require training, technology adoption, improved productivity, and simpler application procedures to reach national and international markets, Hajiji stated. He praised the federal ministry for implementing bureaucratic reforms that shorten application processing times.

Alignment with the Sabah Development Plan

The push to strengthen the local entrepreneurial ecosystem directly supports the Sabah Maju Jaya 2.0 Development Plan running from 2026 to 2030. That framework focuses heavily on economic value creation, productivity, and regional competitiveness.

State-level initiatives such as the SME-UP Assistance Programme operate alongside federal programs to build local capacity. The state government is also utilizing the Mindet Special Cooperative Development Fund to provide additional grants, with second-phase recipients to be decided soon.

Future Business Support and Market Expansion

Local business owners have been advised to leverage upcoming budget measures and carnival events for digital training and business matching. Hajiji specifically urged enterprises to improve their product packaging, branding, and consistency to stay competitive in wider markets.

Mindet plans to propose further allocations under the Sabah 2027 Budget to expand support for cooperatives. Meanwhile, events like the inaugural CoopFest Borneo aim to strengthen trade links between cooperatives across Sabah and Sarawak.