By: Zaki Salleh
IPOH: Entrepreneurs have been urged to fully utilise government grants and incentives to strengthen their business competitiveness amid an increasingly challenging economic environment.
Rising business costs, intensifying market competition and the need for industrial transformation require entrepreneurs to be more proactive in seizing opportunities provided by the government.
Jelapang State Assemblyman, Cheah Pou Hian, said the government has introduced various forms of assistance, including financing schemes, tax incentives, digitalisation initiatives and industry development programmes to help businesses achieve sustainable growth.
However, he acknowledged that many entrepreneurs still lack a clear understanding of the application process and how to fully benefit from the available initiatives.
“Therefore, entrepreneurship assistance programmes have been established as a platform to provide direct briefings on the wide range of government assistance and policies available to the business community,” he said.
He was speaking while officiating the Empowering Access to Government Grants and Incentives: Strategic Sharing Session held at the Jelapang Community Hall.
The programme was attended by approximately 100 participants.
Cheah said the event forms part of the Economic Perspective Series under the Jelapang State Constituency Special Community Action Plan 2026 (PTKK DUN Jelapang).
He added that the initiative aims to strengthen collaboration between government agencies and the industrial sector in developing a more competitive and innovative economic ecosystem in Jelapang.
In his speech, he also expressed appreciation to representatives from the Ministry of Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives, Northern Corridor Implementation Authority, Inland Revenue Board of Malaysia, Malaysian Investment Development Authority and SIRIM Berhad for sharing valuable insights on enterprise development in Malaysia.
He also encouraged entrepreneurs to make full use of the knowledge gained, embrace transformation and innovation, and continue working closely with the government to create new economic opportunities.
