UPKO submits input and recommendations for Bumiputera Economic Congress
KOTA KINABALU: The United Kinabalu Progressive Organisation (UPKO) has submitted its input and recommendations for the Bumiputera Economic Congress (KEB) to Sabah Bumiputera Cluster chairman Assoc Prof Datuk Dr Ramzah Dambul.
UPKO president Datuk Ewon Benedick together with the Bureau of Entrepreneurship and Economics held a meeting and discussion with Dr Ramzah at the Institute of Development Studies (IDS) Sabah here on Friday.
According to Ewon, KEB will be held at the Putrajaya International Convention Center (PICC) from 29 February to 2 March, and the government has appointed Dr Ramzah as the chairman of the Sabah Bumiputera Cluster.
“When KEB was discussed, I requested that the economic issues of Sabah Bumiputera and non-Malay Bumiputera be given focus and that a separate discussion be held.
“Therefore, the government decided to hold a Sabah Bumiputera Cluster and a Sarawak Bumiputera Cluster in this congress.
“As a party that is committed to developing
When KEB was discussed, I requested that the economic issues of Sabah Bumiputera and nonMalay Bumiputera be given focus and that a separate discussion be held.
— Datuk Ewon Benedick, UPKO president
socio-economic standards and empowering Sabah Bumiputera participation in the entrepreneurial sector and economic activities, UPKO today submitted input and recommendations to Dr Ramzah so that it can be included in the preparation of the congress resolution.
“Of course the Ministry of Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives (KUSKOP) will be one of the strategic ministries that will implement the congress resolutions.
“Thus, I would like to see a resolution where my ministry can play a big and significant role for economic development and entrepreneurship in Sabah and Sarawak,” he said in a statement.
Ewon, who is also KUSKOP minister, stated that he will invite both Sabah and Sarawak Bumiputera Cluster chairmen to present a resolution to his ministry after the congress.
“I am of the opinion that, as has been my aspiration all along, the government can introduce a look east policy in the country, which is to give additional focus to Sabah and Sarawak in the economic development and entrepreneurship of the people.
“That is why I will invite the chairmen of the Sabah Bumiputera Cluster and the chairman of the Sarawak Bumiputera Cluster to give a special briefing to my ministry in March so that we can take a congress resolution to be used as an initiative or programme to be implemented in the ministry,” he said.
Also present at the meeting were UPKO Entrepreneurship and Economic Bureau chairman Datuk Gilbert Sham, INSKEN Board of Trustees member Mary Jim and Momogun National Congress deputy president Datuk Stephen Sampil.