PUTRAJAYA: A number of entrepreneurs are encountering placement issues due to the lack of understanding on the business environment by local authorities.
Malaysian Federation of Hawkers and Petty Traders Association president Datuk Seri Rosli Sulaiman said these entrepreneurs needed to be in strategic locations to foster business expansion.
"Bumiputera individuals seek livelihoods, but if the areas are not strategic, how can they sustain themselves?"
He questioned this during a panel discussion at the Madani Discussion Session 4: 'Opportunities to Enhance Micro and Small Entrepreneurs' Scale' during the Bumiputera Economic Congress (KEB) here today.
Rosli said among the challenges faced is the ongoing problem of the bureaucracy involved in obtaining funds and loans.
"The most crucial issue, which no agency has stepped forward to address until now, is welfare matters."
He said the government needed to listen to the voices of Bumiputera entrepreneurs, to understand the aspirations of Bumiputera individuals to dominate the corporate business.
Meanwhile, Kadazandusun Chamber of Commerce and Industry Malaysia vice-president Datuk Stephen Sampit said most micro- and small-scale entrepreneurs in Sabah were still in the initial stages of starting their businesses.
"The government needs to understand the needs of entrepreneurs in Sabah and Sarawak because the culture is different, as they only require basic business needs. If the basic level is still inadequate, how will Bumiputera entrepreneurs in Sabah progress to the next level?"
However, Dayak Chamber of Commerce and Industry Sarawak secretary-general Libat Langub said Bumiputera entrepreneurs in Sarawak face several issues, including financial, welfare and infrastructure challenges.
Langub described the challenges in terms of basic infrastructure, such as roads and Internet networks, faced by entrepreneurs in Sarawak.
"If they lack this essential infrastructure despite being in business, how can Bumiputera entrepreneurs in Sarawak expect to thrive?
"Consequently, most micro- and small-scale entrepreneurs in Sarawak remain at that level without any significant development."
