KOTA KINABALU: A group of seven local entrepreneurs were spurred to form an online platform called Borneo Go to keep businesses alive when the government first enforced the movement control order last March.
Its spokesperson, Koh Kok Cheng said members of the group got acquainted when attending a business motivational class on how to stay afloat during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The members comprising the proprietors of Green Buddy, Homespace Supply, Tok Kelapa, Moh Kee Birdnest, JMM Cookies, i-World and Teck Yen Sdn Bhd.
Kok shared they learnt the concept of Amoeba Management by Kazuo Inamori, who is director and chairman emeritus of Japan Airlines, founder and chairman emeritus of Kyocera Corporation and honorary adviser of KDDI Corporation during the motivational class.
“The devastating Covid-19 pandemic has taught us the importance of cooperation and take advantage of the information technology to get connected.
“It is high time we discard the traditional mentality of working in the silo which stifled growth and killing businesses. Without income our employees will also suffer.” said Koh.
Business has declined badly since past 10 months because shops were not allowed to operate during the MCO, so to stay afloat they have to go online and be open minded, he said.
“We are inviting other local entrepreneurs to join the platform so that we can grow together to improve the state’s economy because we cannot rely on the government alone,” said Koh.
The Borneo Go also organised a Chinese New Year delivery project last week around Kota Kinabalu with the farthest to Keningau.
“We managed to delivers about 100 festive gifts to family members of those working and schooling in West Malaysia who unable to return home for this year reunion dinner.
“The project aimed to let those who cannot return to send gifts as a way to tell their loved ones although they are not around but their hearts are there,” said Koh.
He added the deliveries were stream live via social media to enable both receivers and senders greet each other.
Besides that, Borneo Go also organised the online night markets in Gaya Street, Segama, Lido Square and Fohsang to keep the traditional spirit alive prior to the eve of Chinese New Year.
“At the same time, we want to show to the world the Chinese New Year atmosphere in Sabah and promote the night markets as a tourism product,” said Koh.
