KUALA TERANGGANU: Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Minister Datuk Ewon Benedick said efforts to eradicate poverty through entrepreneurship development are on his ministry’s agenda, in line with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s vision.
Ewon is confident that through various entrepreneurship development programmes implemented by agencies under his ministry, including Amanah Ikhtiar Malaysia (AIM), the goal of eradicating poverty can be achieved.
“Entrepreneurial development is important because economic strength is able to lift the community out of poverty and then help children study until university and return to their families and country to serve as quality Malaysian citizens.
“This is the PM’s vision that he shared with all members of the cabinet. I am very grateful that AIM was gazetted as an agency under the Ministry of Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Malaysia because we at the ministry had the opportunity to work with him (PM) to develop women entrepreneurs through AIM,” he said.
Ewon said this in his speech at the Terengganu Region AIM Friends of Entrepreneurs Carnival, which was officiated by the Prime Minister here on Wednesday.
Accordingly, Ewon is confident that next year’s Madani Malaysia Budget, to be tabled by the Prime Minister this October, will give great hope to AIM Friends across the country.
“I am very confident that this October, during the tabling of the Madani Malaysia Budget next year, the Honourable Prime Minister will give something big to the Friends of AIM so that we can eradicate poverty through entrepreneurship development.
“Datuk Seri (Anwar Ibrahim) as PM holds cabinet meetings every week; the National Economic Action Council (MTEN) meets every month; he chairs various special cabinet committee meetings; and he discusses the economic development of our country,” he said.
Ewon said that, as the son of a single mother who is also a small trader in Pasar Tamu (baazar) in Sabah, he very much understands the struggles and sacrifices of Sahabat AIM, who are women.
“We need a leader who understands this situation; we need a Prime Minister (Anwar) as the head of government who understands this situation and who also initiated the establishment of AIM many years ago and today wants to continue championing the cause of women through AIM,” he said.
