KOTA KINABALU: The Minister of Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives, Datuk Ewon Benedick, chaired a meeting focused on the implementation of the Ehsan@KUSKOP initiative, ensuring its smooth execution throughout the implementation period.
The Ehsan@KUSKOP initiative is a program aimed at enhancing education for children from families registered in e-Kasih, supported by corporate social contributions from Bank Rakyat, which is managed by the Bank Rakyat Foundation.
A total of RM3 million has been allocated for this initiative, which will be piloted in three parliamentary areas in northern Sabah: Kudat, Kota Marudu, and Kota Belud, all of which have a high number of e-Kasih registrations.
According to Ewon, the Ehsan@KUSKOP initiative includes targeted assistance for transportation, village/transit hostels, school supplies, educational start-up aid, tuition, and educational seminars.
“The Ehsan@KUSKOP initiative is a vision and contribution from myself, the Ministry of Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives (KUSKOP), and its agencies, aimed at eradicating poverty in Sabah, as envisioned by the Prime Minister and the Chief Minister of Sabah through educational and entrepreneurial movements that fall within my responsibilities.
“Whenever I attend Cabinet meetings or sessions in Parliament, and the topic of the poorest districts in Sabah arises, I have resolved to be part of the solution rather than pointing fingers at the reasons for the persistent poverty in Sabah.
“That is why I conceived the Ehsan@KUSKOP initiative as an effort to address this poverty issue. I am grateful that KUSKOP and its agencies, such as Bank Rakyat and the Bank Rakyat Foundation, are willing to join this cause,” he stated.
The Ehsan@KUSKOP program was launched on December 30 of last year by YAB Chief Minister of Sabah, Datuk Seri Panglima Hajiji Noor, during the MADANI KUSKOP Community Engagement Ceremony at Kadamaian Square, Kota B Belud.
