‘Opt for entrepreneurship instead of employment’
KOTA SAMARAHAN: Students of universities and technical colleges should consider becoming entrepreneurs rather than seeking jobs in the public and private sectors.
Minister of Industrial and Entrepreneur Development, Trade and Investment Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hassan said the government had been offering programmes which provide a platform for young individuals to venture into entrepreneurship.
“There are many opportunities for our young generation, especially students of universities and technical colleges who are very much exposed to IT and the world.
“There are huge opportunities for you to embrace entrepreneurship as a career, especially in the digital economy,” he said when representing Chief Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg in launching the Youngpreneurs Go (YPGO) Carnival organised by the Companies Commission of Malaysia (SSM) at Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas) here yesterday.
Awang Tengah said the carnival was timely as undergraduates in Sarawak ought to be cultivated in entrepreneurial development.
Young Sarawakians must go out there to grab the opportunities particularly
There are many opportunities for our young generation, especially students of universities and technical colleges who are very much exposed to IT and the world. —Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hassan, Minister of Industrial and Entrepreneur Development, Trade and Investment
when the state government emphasised development of the digital economy. Abang Johari had announced RM1 billion for enhancing the state’s ICT infrastructure and facilities to achieve a digital economy.
“We will implement a digital village not far from here (Unimas) to house facilities that support startup and incubators in digital entrepreneurship.”
Awang Tengah said the only way to “go big” in business was to secure via the internet a share in the global market.
He said the local market came with limitations while the virtual market could generate results inconceivable of the former.
“Imagine you have unique keropok (snack) products or traditional clothes of quality you can offer the global market and make available through the internet. This is how you expand your business.”
Touching on Samajaya Light Industrial Park here, Awang Tengah said it was home to multi-national corporations which offered at least 8,000 jobs to the people, out of which 90 per cent had been taken by Sarawakians.
“Now we have hydroelectric dams which can generate so much power and offer it at a lower rate to investors. With lower electricity tariffs, we can attract foreign investments to make SCORE (Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy) a success,” he added.
At the launch, Awang Tengah witnessed SSM chief executive officer Dato’ Zahrah Abd Wahab Fenner hand over RM30,000 to Unimas vicechancellor Prof Dato’ Dr Mohamad Kadim Suadi for distribution to 100 eligible students of Unimas to lighten their financial burden.
Present were Deputy Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Minister Dato’ Henry Sum Agong, Assistant Minister for Entrepreneur Development Datuk Mohd Naroden Majais and Awang Tengah’s wife Datin Amar Dayang Morliah Awang Daud.