PENAMPANG: Penampang Member of Parliament, Datuk Ewon Benedick presented donations totaling RM155,000 to 25 Chinese community associations in the parliamentary constituency as a continuing commitment to supporting community development and local industry players.
Ewon, who is also Deputy Chief Minister III and Minister of Industry, Entrepreneurship and Transport of Sabah, said the initiative was sparked by discussions with the Chinese Kapitans of Penampang who had previously organised the Chinese New Year celebration and the Penampang Parliament Lantern Festival.
“As the Member of Parliament for Penampang, I channelled a total allocation of RM155,000 to 25 Chinese community associations in the Penampang Parliament. Six associations received RM10,000 each, while another 19 associations received RM5,000 each.
“I am confident that through close collaboration with associations and industry players, we can elevate the progress of the economy, industry, business and entrepreneurship in Sabah,” he said when speaking at the Thanksgiving and Contribution Presentation Ceremony for the Penampang Chinese community association, here, yesterday.
The ceremony was organised by the Penampang Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCCI).
Ewon also shared his ministry’s policies, vision and main focus, including the implementation of the Sabah First Policy which emphasises efforts to develop the people of Sabah to have better opportunities and income through job opportunities and business ownership.
“Once I lead this ministry, I have stated that I will implement the Sabah First policy in this ministry.
“The meaning of the Sabah First Policy is that apart from supporting the Sabah Maju Jaya Plan and other development plans, I also want to see more Sabahans being developed so that they have income, whether as business owners or employees with business owners.
To make this vision a success, we must have a focus, namely developing an industrial ecosystem, an entrepreneurial ecosystem and an entrepreneurial business ecosystem that is better than before,” he said.
He said this was also important to reduce poverty levels in Sabah. Eight of the 10 poorest districts in Malaysia are in Sabah.
“So I have made the vision of developing the people of Sabah to have an income as the basis of my leadership in the ministry.
“By bringing together agencies related to logistics and transportation under my ministry, it will make it easier for us to develop a better ecosystem.
“We need to build a better industrial, entrepreneurial and business ecosystem, including resolving logistics issues, port congestion, industrial park vacancies and increasing the capacity of Sabah’s small and medium enterprises (SMEs),” he said.
He stressed that the standards and quality of products and services of Sabah industry players must continue to be improved so that they can compete not only at the national level, but also meet international market standards.
At the same time, Ewon said that the services of ministries, agencies and government-linked companies (GLCs) under his ministry must be more efficient and responsive to the needs of the industry.
He also informed that he had proposed to the Sabah Chief Minister that corporate representatives be appointed on the boards of directors of industry-related agencies and GLCs to ensure that governance is more professional and centered on the needs of the industry, not political interests.
“I believe this approach will bring great benefits to Sabah, making the state a better investment, business and entrepreneurship destination, thereby increasing the income of business owners and creating more job opportunities for the people,” he said.
Ewon stressed that he would continue to work closely with PCCCI and entrepreneurship, business and industrial-based organisations to ensure that Sabah’s economic development agenda can be realised.
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