Women in Sabah Given Equal Opportunities and Benefits

27 February 2025

KOTA KINABALU: The State Government is committed to ensuring that women receive equal opportunities and benefits, said Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Hajiji Noor.

He noted that, in addition to increasing the number of women in policy-making and decision-making roles across various sectors of public service, the government is also focused on empowering women engaged in small and medium-sized enterprises.

According to him, various opportunities and programmes have been established and will be implemented for the benefit of entrepreneurs, targeting not only the youth but also individuals seeking to enter the entrepreneurial field.

As an example, he cited the Youth Entrepreneur Development Programme (SYABAS) under the Ministry of Youth and Sports, which has benefitted over 5,000 young people in various industries across the state.

“The government, through the Ministry of Industrial Development and Entrepreneurship (MIDE), will implement various programmes to assist micro, small, and medium enterprises in Sabah, such as the SME-Up programme, marketing and promotion of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) products, as well as entrepreneur development courses this year throughout Sabah,” he said.

He made these remarks during the launch of the Young Women Entrepreneurs Empowerment Programme at the Sabah International Convention Centre (SICC) on Thursday. Hajiji's speech was read by the State Minister of Finance, Datuk Seri Panglima Masidi Manjun.

He noted that to date, 8,031 SME entrepreneurs have registered with MIDE and expressed hope that more will participate to enhance their economic well-being and that of Sabah.

He mentioned that MIDE has identified 87 entrepreneurs to engage in various fields of trade and international expos abroad this year to market their products to international markets.

He stated that the Young Women Entrepreneurs Empowerment Programme is another key initiative in the Sabah State Budget 2025 aimed at supporting young women entrepreneurs in the state.

Hajiji remarked that approximately 200 young women entrepreneurs in Sabah will benefit from the programme known as Daya Upaya Peluang Usahanita (DAYANG), which also offers attractive loan packages.

According to him, this programme not only provides capital but also encompasses comprehensive support through mentoring and training sessions conducted by industry experts, as well as exposure to more effective marketing strategies to ensure their long-term success.

He pointed out that in reality, women entrepreneurs often face significant challenges such as limited capital, lack of access to technology, markets, and the necessary support networks to start and grow their businesses.

“These challenges not only restrict their opportunities to enhance capacity and productivity but also hinder their potential to contribute to the economic growth of the state,” he said.

Hajiji hopes that the Young Women Entrepreneurs Empowerment Programme, jointly organised by the Sabah Development Studies Institute (IDS) and the Sabah Credit Corporation (SCC), will serve as an inspiration for young women entrepreneurs to continue achieving success in their respective businesses.