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‘Tougher’ approach: Rafizi said the pivot to providing credit instead would ensure applications from those who are serious about building a business. — Bernama
CYBERJAYA: In a break from past practices, the unity government is moving away from giving grants to bumiputra entrepreneurs. Instead, it will assist them with loans as part of its agenda to strengthen the community’s economy.
By getting entrepreneurs to pay back what they borrow, the government hopes to create a steady supply of funds that could benefit more such businessmen, said Rafizi Ramli.
Under the initiative, the government also hopes to build a sustainable business ecosystem producing the right kind of professionals and businesses that will see micro and small enterprises scaled up to create value, the Economy Minister told reporters after an event here yesterday featuring three of the ministry’s agencies tasked with bumiputra empowerment.
The agencies – Teraju, Ekuiti Nasional Berhad (Ekuinas) and Yayasan Peneraju (Peneraju) – have been realigned to focus their resources and energies on creating the bumiputra business ecosystem envisioned by the ministry.Rafizi emphasised that the “tougher” approach of building an ecosystem and assisting businesses with credit instead of grants, would be more effective at creating successful bumiputra firms.
“One of the differences (from the past) is focus. For instance, in the past, Teraju gave out grants to everyone, large or small. They did not focus on building an ecosystem,” Rafizi said.
“Peneraju also gave scholarships to every bumiputra who wanted to be professional, but it was up to them to decide what kind of professional they wanted to be.”
This approach, he said, “did not connect the dots” between the professional talent being nurtured and the grants being given out to entrepreneurs.
As part of its own realignment, Peneraju, which was previously tasked with creating bumiputra professionals such as chartered accountants and chartered financial analysts, will now focus on nurturing business leaders.
Peneraju chief executive officer Ibrahim Sani said that instead of just creating more professionals to join the workforce, the foundation’s new accelerator programme will train talent to start venture capital funds.
“This will hopefully create a cycle, and bumiputra entrepreneurs need people to invest in their companies,” he said during the event.
Similarly, Ekuinas, which previously concentrated on assisting large bumiputra companies to become listed on the stock market, will now offer loans and credit to mid-size businesses to enable them to scale up.
Ekuinas chief executive officer Datuk Syed Yasir Arafat Abd Kadir said this was because medium and small firms often had trouble getting loans from banks, which then hobbled their ability to expand.
On the strategy of providing credit instead of grants, Rafizi said this would ensure that only those who are serious about building a business would apply for the funds.
“If you give out a grant of RM500,000 to someone and, at the end of two years, he says the business flopped, that money would be wasted. It could’ve gone to so many other people.
“We want people who want to really do business because they have to repay what they borrowed. They will only take money if they are confident they can pay it back.
“We don’t want our funds to just go to 500 people; we want them to go to thousands, but in order to do that, we have to roll the money.”
Rafizi stated that this strategy would generate additional funds and opportunities for bumiputra firms to expand, enabling them to list on the stock market and achieve sustainability.
“We must work on the assets and the funds. It is controversial, but my hope is that people will know that a tougher approach is what is needed for bumiputra entrepreneurs to accelerate their competitiveness.”
No grants 'not the right way'
PETALING JAYA: Many bumiputra entrepreneurs have no problems accepting the government’s new approach of giving them loans instead of grants to grow their businesses.
However, the “harder approach” of doing away with grants under the bumiputra development agenda could result in a backlash from the community, they say.
“I think that this is not quite the right way of doing it,” said Malay Economic Action Council (MTEM) senior fellow Ahmad Yazid Othman.
“It must be understood that grants are given to those who may not be able to support themselves. I don’t think it would be welcomed by the community and may not have the right impact,” he said.
However, he said the council supported the announcements by Economy Minister Rafizi Ramli on the new approach.
Although the new approach could prevent abuses, Ahmad said the situation for bumiputra enterprises may not improve if the policy is ill-implemented.
On Monday, Rafizi announced that the unity government was moving away from giving grants to bumiputra entrepreneurs but would instead assist them with loans as part of its agenda to strengthen the community’s economy.
The minister said that by getting entrepreneurs to pay back what they borrow, the government hopes to create a steady supply of funds that could benefit more such businessmen.
Three agencies – Teraju, Ekuiti Nasional Berhad (Ekuinas) and Yayasan Peneraju (Peneraju) – will realign to focus their resources and energies on creating the bumiputra business ecosystem envisioned by the ministry.
Ahmad, who is also Malay Chamber of Commerce Malaysia secretary-general, lauded the move by Teraju to widen the scope of those in the eco-system that contribute towards the success of the new approach.
He also said the relevant ministries must not work in silos but should collaborate to ensure the success of programmes.
Malay Businessmen and Industrialists Association of Malaysia (Perdasama) president Mohd Azamanizam Baharon also said the grant scheme should be maintained but given out to bumiputra companies based on merit and high level of competency.
Grants via Teraju should still be made available, he said, particularly for bumiputra companies involved in the renewable energy sector. However, he too added that Perdasama agreed that bumiputra businesses should not rely solely on government grants or aid.
PETALING JAYA: Many bumiputra entrepreneurs have no problems accepting the government’s new approach of giving them loans instead of grants to grow their businesses.
However, the “harder approach” of doing away with grants under the bumiputra development agenda could result in a backlash from the community, they say.
“I think that this is not quite the right way of doing it,” said Malay Economic Action Council (MTEM) senior fellow Ahmad Yazid Othman.
“It must be understood that grants are given to those who may not be able to support themselves. I don’t think it would be welcomed by the community and may not have the right impact,” he said.
However, he said the council supported the announcements by Economy Minister Rafizi Ramli on the new approach.
Although the new approach could prevent abuses, Ahmad said the situation for bumiputra enterprises may not improve if the policy is ill-implemented.
On Monday, Rafizi announced that the unity government was moving away from giving grants to bumiputra entrepreneurs but would instead assist them with loans as part of its agenda to strengthen the community’s economy.
The minister said that by getting entrepreneurs to pay back what they borrow, the government hopes to create a steady supply of funds that could benefit more such businessmen.
Three agencies – Teraju, Ekuiti Nasional Berhad (Ekuinas) and Yayasan Peneraju (Peneraju) – will realign to focus their resources and energies on creating the bumiputra business ecosystem envisioned by the ministry.
Ahmad, who is also Malay Chamber of Commerce Malaysia secretary-general, lauded the move by Teraju to widen the scope of those in the eco-system that contribute towards the success of the new approach.
He also said the relevant ministries must not work in silos but should collaborate to ensure the success of programmes.
Malay Businessmen and Industrialists Association of Malaysia (Perdasama) president Mohd Azamanizam Baharon also said the grant scheme should be maintained but given out to bumiputra companies based on merit and high level of competency.
Grants via Teraju should still be made available, he said, particularly for bumiputra companies involved in the renewable energy sector. However, he too added that Perdasama agreed that bumiputra businesses should not rely solely on government grants or aid.
Regaining momentum, property sector to recover despite challenges
Meanwhile, MAVCAP CEO Shahril Anas said with blockchain technology being increasingly adopted in Malaysia, the VC firm saw the opportunity to increase availability of funding for innovative start-ups in this space and invested in LuneX.
