Kota Kinabalu: The Sabah Government is taking proactive steps to encourage young women entrepreneurs by considering the conversion of loans into grants.
Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Haji Hajiji Haji Noor said the government is committed to opening opportunities and providing benefits for women’s participation across various industries in the State.
“There are various opportunities and programmes available – not just for young entrepreneurs but also for individuals looking to venture into entrepreneurship.
“One such initiative is the Youth Entrepreneur Development Programme (Syabas) under the State Ministry of Youth and Sports, which has benefited over 5,000 young entrepreneurs in different industries across Sabah.
“The government, through the Ministry of Industrial Development and Entrepreneurship (Mide), will implement several programmes to support micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in Sabah, such as the SME-Up programme, marketing and promotion initiatives for small and medium enterprises (SMEs), and entrepreneurship development courses across the state this year,” he said.
He said this during the launch of the Young Women Entrepreneurs Empowerment Programme at the Sabah International Convention Centre (SICC), recently. Hajiji’s speech was delivered by State Finance Minister, Datuk Seri Panglima Masidi Manjun.
As of now, 8,031 SMEs have registered with Mide and the government hopes more entrepreneurs will participate to improve their own economic well-being and that of Sabah.
“Mide has identified 87 entrepreneurs who will take part in various global trade fairs and expos to promote their products in international markets this year.
“This Young Women Entrepreneurs Empowerment Programme is a key initiative under the Sabah State Budget 2025. It aims to assist young women entrepreneurs, with an estimated 200 beneficiaries in Sabah through a program called Daya Upaya Peluang Usahanita (Dayang), which also offers attractive loan packages.”
After the event, Masidi told reporters that discussions would be held to explore the possibility of converting 50pc of the loan value into grants for successful young women entrepreneurs under Dayang.
“Perhaps, I can say this could be considered – if they show dedication and success in their business, half of the loan value may be converted into a grant.
“This means they only have to repay half the amount. We want them to know that we support their efforts, and we want all young women entrepreneurs receiving this loan to understand that if they succeed, we will support them further,” he added.
The Dayang initiative has been allocated RM10 million, with RM5 million from the Sabah Credit Corporation (SCC) and RM5 million from the State Government.It is a collaboration between the Sabah Institute for Development Studies (IDS) and SCC to empower young women entrepreneurs statewide.
IDS Chairperson, Datuk Seri Panglima Azizah Mohd Dun, said the programme will be promoted through outreach initiatives across different regions in Sabah to encourage participation.
“Young women entrepreneurs under 45 years old are eligible to apply for Dayang. This is not only for those with established businesses but also for those who are just starting out.
“We want young women to know that we recognise their passion and efforts in building their economic future. Even those without jobs can create employment for themselves through entrepreneurship.
“This is why the State Government is stepping in to support them through Dayang,” she said.
Azizah also emphasised that Dayang recipients will receive continuous monitoring and guidance to ensure the programme’s success.
“Starting a business requires knowledge and proper training and this programme provides that opportunity.
“When they take a loan through Dayang, they will be closely monitored so we can track their business growth and ensure their success.
“We are offering this opportunity because we know that women are hardworking and highly committed to repaying their loans. Women entrepreneurs have demonstrated an excellent repayment rate, with nearly 100pc – the lowest being around 95pc,” she said.
Discussions on Dayang began last year following the approval of the 2025 Sabah Budget in the State Legislative Assembly (DUN).
“Talks have been ongoing between IDS and SCC because we want to ensure excellent and impactful results.
“We hope this initiative will help them overcome business challenges and grow their enterprises,” she added.
Dayang provides capital support along with comprehensive training and mentorship from industry experts. It also exposes entrepreneurs to effective marketing strategies to ensure their long-term success.
— Noor Zafira Zayn/DE
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