RM950.78 Million Disbursed to Sabah Entrepreneurs
A total of RM950.78 million in financing has been disbursed to 44,059 entrepreneurs and cooperatives in Sabah as of September, according to state figures released in October. The funds were channelled through the Ministry of Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives (KUSKOP) and its agencies to support micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) across the state.
Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Haji Hajiji Haji Noor stated that the financial injection reflects the government’s ongoing commitment to expanding access to capital and boosting local business competitiveness. Speaking at the Sabah-level Hebatkan Perniagaan Malaysia (HPM) Carnival 2026 at Lintasan Deasoka, Hajiji emphasized that financial backing alone is insufficient for modern enterprises. His remarks were delivered by Deputy Chief Minister III and state Industrial Development, Entrepreneurship and Transport Minister Datuk Ewon Benedick.
Entrepreneurs need not only financing, but also training, technology, improved productivity, simpler application procedures and access to wider markets,
Hajiji said. He added that the state aims to see local companies become more digitalized and innovative while extending their reach internationally.
Alignment With Sabah Maju Jaya 2.0 Plan
The state’s entrepreneurship drive links directly to the Sabah Maju Jaya (SMJ) 2.0 Development Plan for 2026 to 2030. This framework prioritizes productivity, value creation, and overall economic competitiveness.
State officials praised KUSKOP for implementing bureaucratic reforms designed to shorten application processing times. Hajiji noted that these administrative improvements allow business owners to spend less time on paperwork and more time securing customers. In addition to federal initiatives, the state government operates the SME-UP Assistance Programme to build local capacity across food, beverage, agriculture, tourism, and handicraft sectors.
Cooperative Sector Funding and Support
Alongside general business financing, Sabah’s cooperative movement received specific federal and state allocations this year. 16 cooperatives in Sabah received RM1.19 million in development assistance from the Malaysia Co-operative Societies Commission (SKM). An additional RM5.3 million was channelled through SKM’s Revolving Capital Fund to benefit two cooperatives.
Datuk Ewon Benedick, who also serves as Sabah Industrial Development, Entrepreneurship and Transport Minister, announced the funding during CoopFest Borneo 2026 at Suria Shopping Mall. Ewon stated that the state government is supplementing federal efforts through its Special Cooperative Development Fund (Mindet), which has begun issuing grants in phases, with further budget allocations planned for 2027.
What are the Mindet grant and KUSKOP funding details?
What digital training programs are available at the HPM Carnival?
While the event offers digital training, business matching, and financing consultation services, the provided reports do not detail the specific curriculum or participating training providers.
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