KOTA KINABALU — A total of RM950.78 million in financing has been disbursed to 44,059 entrepreneurs and cooperatives in Sabah as of September 2026 through the Ministry of Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives (KUSKOP) and its agencies, said Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Hajiji Noor.
He said the allocation 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).
Hajiji said the state government welcomed KUSKOP’s approach under the Hebatkan Perniagaan Malaysia (HPM) initiative, which emphasised comprehensive entrepreneur development beyond financing support.
“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 in his speech at the opening of the Sabah-level Hebatkan Perniagaan Malaysia Carnival 2026 at Lintasan Deasoka here on Oct 25.
The speech was delivered by Deputy Chief Minister III and Industrial Development, Entrepreneurship and Transport Minister Datuk Ewon Benedick.
Hajiji said efforts to strengthen the entrepreneurial ecosystem were in line 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 bureaucratic reforms, including simplifying procedures and shortening application processing times to improve service delivery 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.
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 emphasis on MSME development, particularly through improved access to financing and lower costs of doing business.
He said the state government had continued to prioritise local entrepreneur development throughout 2026, including through the SME-UP Assistance Programme to enhance the capacity, productivity and competitiveness of local enterprises.
The state government was also creating more opportunities for local products to enter 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.
Hajiji said cooperation between the state and federal governments must continue to be strengthened to help more Sabah entrepreneurs sustain their businesses, expand their operations and emerge as local business champions.
He also urged Sabah entrepreneurs to seize opportunities offered by the HPM Carnival, including financing consultations, digital training and business-matching sessions conducted 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 among the state and federal governments, financial institutions, the private sector and the business community would create an ecosystem that enabled more local enterprises to grow and penetrate global markets.
