KUCHING: Sarawakian youths should take up the challenge of doing online business in light of limited employment opportunities amidst the Covid-19 pandemic.
Welfare, Community Wellbeing, Women, Family and Childhood Development Minister Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah said employment in the government sector is also limited.
“Therefore, youths are encouraged to generate their own income by doing business. The youths nowadays are more IT savvy and they are likely to familiarise with the current trend.
“Therefore, they can start their business and entrepreneurship using this new method,” she said during an interview with Borneo Channel portal broadcast live on Facebook last Saturday night (Feb 27).
She pointed out that the state government led by Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg has already introduced and embarked on digital economy in order for Sarawak to leap forward into the fourth Industrial Revolution (IR 4.0).
“Especially during this unprecedented time of Covid-19 pandemic, we are finally able to see the importance of digitalisation and how we should utilise it in the form of doing online business.
“We can make products and market them online and this is not a hindrance despite our movements being limited due to the implementation of movement control order (MCO) to curb the spread of Covid-19 infection,” she elaborated.
Fatimah also said that her ministry and the Ministry of International Trade and Industry, Industrial Terminal and Entrepreneur Development (Mintred) were always ready to assist youths in business.
“We do have some grants but mostly, we would provide small-scale courses to educate the participants on how to obtain business licence or permit and how to apply for various forms of assistance provided by the government,” she said.
Responding to a question by a viewer on women representation in policy-making in the state, Fatimah did not deny that Sarawak has yet to reach the target of 30 percent.
“In Sarawak, there is an increase in percentage but we have yet to reach the target.
“Therefore, the Sarawak Women and Family Department (JWKS) is working hard to empower women in decision-making whereby we provide leadership training and opportunities for potential women in taking up higher positions,” she added.
