KUCHING: Good news for women in Sarawak — the state government has approved to double the grant for women entrepreneurs and the setting up of preschool at workplaces.
Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg made the announcement that an additional grant of RM1 million is being set aside to top up the Sarawak Women and Family Department’s entrepreneurs grant and another RM1 million for the construction of preschools at the workplace under the respective state government agencies.
“The grants that I approved in the past, has indeed encouraged women to venture into businesses. That’s a success.
“And, on the request of the Minister of Welfare, Community Wellbeing, Women, Family and Childhood Development Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah, I agree to double the grant — by another million. That equals to RM2 million,” he said in his speech at the launch of the state-level 2019 Women’s Day celebration at Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK) yesterday.
The chief minister said he is satisfied that women entrepreneurs had made full use of the seed capital and had benefited from it.
“I believe you (women) can do it, because I’ve seen the progress so far. Definitely there is achievement and success on your part. The government will definitely want to match your success.
“Your success is the state’s success as in the process you contribute towards the economy,” he stressed.
On the grant approval for preschool at workplace, Abang Johari said the setting of preschools is crucial as it serves to provide children with early childhood education.
Meanwhile, Fatimah said about 200 women received the entrepreneur grant last year.
“As of August this year, 520 have applied for the grant,” she said.
She added that the request for an additional RM1 million is because the ministry has 2,175 participants up to August 2019 who have undergone training at the Wisma Women Training Centre (WWTC).
“With the RM2 million grant, it will help about 400 entrepreneurs by 2020,” she said.
