MOTORCYCLES TO REV UP LOCAL BUSINESSES
BERA: For electrical technician Mohd Ghadafi Abdul Ghani, 35, a motorcycle that he received from the Rural and Regional Development Ministry will enable him to expand his business radius and earn more.
Ghadafi, along with 119 other local entrepreneurs, were proud recipients of a new motorcycle under the ministry’s (KKLW) Mobilepreneur programme.
The motorcycle allows him to travel to places like Chenor, Temerloh and Mentakab to work.
“Before this, it was very difficult for me to provide services to a place like Chenor which is around 40km away because it is far and the cost for the petrol to travel there and back with my car is expensive.
“But with the motorcycle, the cost is much lower and I can go further to provide my services,” said Ghadafi.
Ghadafi has been doing the business for seven years and he fixes airconditioners and electrical appliances like ceiling fans, lights and wiring.
The motorcycle worth RM5,000 was presented by Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob during the Rural Entrepreneur Mini Carnival at Laman Kerayong Bera here yesterday.
Ismail Sabri said that from 2016 to 2018, the ministry allocated RM45mil for the Mobilepreneur programme for 4,500 participants.
He pointed out that in addition to motorcycles, there was also RM4,000 to provide participants with the necessary tools to run their businesses and another RM1,000 for their training, making it a total of RM10,000 for each participant.
Another recipient, Amirul Shafiq Rosli (pic), 22, who is a motorcycle mechanic, said the new motorcycle would allow him to expand his area of service.
“Usually I only repair my friends’ motorcycles and they would have to bring their motorcycles to my home where I can make the repairs, but now I can go to them with my tools and parts to make the repairs,” said Amirul who has been doing this for a year.
“Now I have a sort of mobile workshop and am able to go outside Bera and repair motorcycles, not just limited to my house.”
R. Kalai Chelvi, 27, who is a graphic designer and sells name cards, banners and flyers, said the vehicle will help her carry out delivery orders.
“Since starting my business in 2015, I had to ask customers to come and collect from my shop, but now I can improve my services and deliver the products myself,” said Kalai Chelvi.