Extra RM600mil funds for bumis

KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak has announced additional allocations totalling RM600mil for bumiputra entrepreneurs to help strengthen and propel them to greater heights.

Out of this sum, RM400mil would be set aside under the Economic Planning Unit for the bumiputra entrepreneur funding programme, said Najib.

“The Government agreed to set aside the extra RM400mil to strengthen and develop bumiputra entrepreneurs,” he said at the inaugural Bumiputra Entrepeneurs gathering here yesterday.

The RM600mil includes RM100mil each for Perbadanan Usahawan Nasional Bhd to help entrepreneurs get good locations at major retail areas, and for Mara to expand bumiputra corporate equity.

Najib also announced that the limit for small entrepreneurship loans under Tekun Nasional and Mara would be increased from RM50,000 to RM100,000 and that Mara business loans be doubled from RM500,000 to RM1mil.