RM950.78 million disbursed to over 44,000 entrepreneurs and cooperatives in Sabah

25 OCTOBER 2026

KOTA KINABALU: A total of RM950.78 million in financing has been disbursed to 44,059 entrepreneurs and cooperatives in Sabah as of September this year through the Ministry of Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives (KUSKOP) and its agencies, said Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Haji Hajiji Haji Noor.

He said the amount reflected the government's continued commitment to expanding access to financing and supporting the growth and competitiveness of local businesses, particularly micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs).

He said the State Government welcomed KUSKOP's approach through the Hebatkan Perniagaan Malaysia (HPM) initiative, which emphasised comprehensive entrepreneur development rather than merely providing financing.

"Entrepreneurs need not only financing, but also training, technology, improved productivity, simpler application procedures and access to wider markets.

"We want to see more entrepreneurs and local companies in Sabah move forward become more digitalised, productive and innovative, while expanding their market reach nationally and internationally," he said at the opening of the Sabah-level Hebatkan Perniagaan Malaysia Carnival 2026 at Lintasan Deasoka here today.

Deputy Chief Minister III/Industrial Development, Entrepreneurship and Transport Minister Datuk Ewon Benedick delivered the speech.

Hajiji said efforts to strengthen the entrepreneurial ecosystem align with the Sabah Maju Jaya (SMJ) 2.0 Development Plan for 2026 to 2030, which focuses on enhancing competitiveness, productivity, and value creation in the state's economy.

He said the State Government also appreciated KUSKOP's commitment to implementing bureaucratic reforms, simplifying procedures and shortening application processing times to improve service delivery efficiency for entrepreneurs.

"This is the kind of approach we want to see further strengthened, where entrepreneurs spend more time building their businesses and finding customers, and less time dealing with procedures that can be simplified," he said.

In this regard, he said the State Government was prepared to continue working with KUSKOP and its agencies to ensure that Federal Government programmes were aligned with the needs of Sabah's business ecosystem.

Hajiji also welcomed Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's Budget 2027 announcement, which placed special emphasis on MSME development, particularly through improved access to financing and reduced costs of doing business.

Meanwhile, he said the State Government had continued to focus on strengthening local entrepreneur development throughout this year, including through the SME-UP Assistance Programme to enhance the capacity, productivity and competitiveness of local enterprises.

He said the State Government was also creating more opportunities for local products to penetrate new markets, particularly in the food and beverage, agriculture, tourism, handicraft and locally sourced product sectors.

"At the same time, the State Government is strengthening innovation- and technology- based entrepreneurship development, alongside rural product empowerment and skills development programmes.

"These initiatives provide opportunities for more entrepreneurs, particularly youths and rural communities, to enhance their skills, add value to their products and explore new economic opportunities," he said.

He said cooperation between the State and Federal Governments must continue to strengthen so more Sabah entrepreneurs can sustain their businesses, scale up their operations and emerge as local business champions.

Hajiji also urged Sabah entrepreneurs to seize opportunities through the HPM Carnival, including financing consultations, digital training, and business matching sessions offered by KUSKOP agencies and the state's strategic partners.

"We must not be content with our existing markets. Improve product packaging, branding and consistency to become more competitive," he said.

He expressed confidence that close cooperation between the State Government, Federal Government, financial institutions, the private sector and the business community could create an ecosystem that would enable more local enterprises to grow and penetrate global markets.