The Perak Menteri Besar presenting Pandan Coconut seedlings to visitors here.

BAGAN DATUK, 27 November 2021- The Menteri Besar Bersama Rakyat (MESRA) programme was being continued with the focus on entrepreneurs in the Bagan Datuk district.

Perak Menteri Besar Dato' Seri Saarani Mohamad said the programme aimed to assess and listen to the feedback from farmers and entrepreneurs on the assistance and programmes implemented by the state government.

"This also allows me and the state leadership to formulate a Post COVID-19 Recovery Plan to help entrepreneurs to bounce back," he said at a Town Hall Session with Entrepreneurs, Hawkers, Small Traders, Farmers, Breeders and Planters in Bagan Datuk at Dewan Dato' Lope Hashim, Bagan Datuk.

The Menteri Besar also listened to the complaints of entrepreneurs facing difficulties in re-developing their business after the pandemic.

Hence, the state government will strive to assist entrepreneurs via the State Budget 2022 to be announced soon.

“The state government will cover the allocation that was not listed by the Federal Government in the 2022 Budget.

“For example, we provide initiatives such as micro credit for entrepreneurs. We know that SME Corporation Malaysia (SME Corp), Ministry of Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives has also provided similar initiatives, but not all have benefited.

"Therefore, the state government will cover it by using the available funds," he said.

The Menteri Besar also visited 9 businesses, such as breeders, handicraft and automotive entrepreneurs around the district, and moreover, an estimated 15 Pandan Coconut seedlings have been distributed to visitors at Dataran Bagan Datuk.

Earlier, the state government through the Entrepreneur Development Secretariat (STeP) in collaboration with various departments and agencies has also implemented more than 95 programmes benefitting 28,752 entrepreneurs of various categories.

Also present were State Secretary Dato' Ahmad Suaidi Abdul Rahim, State Industry, Investment and Corridor Development Committee Chairman Dato’ Shahrul Zaman Yahya, Bagan Datuk Member of Parliament Dato’ Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, Perak Agriculture Department Director Norsiyenti Othman and Entrepreneur Development Secretariat Director Mohamad Rozlan Mohamad Razali.

Source : Corporate, SUK Perak.