DPMM doesn't crave self-gratification, gets on ground to solve problems
KUALA LUMPUR, May 6 (Bernama) -- The 18 initiatives unveiled by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak to take Langkawi to greater heights were based on the needs of more than 30 stakeholder groups on the resort island.
Malaysian Malay Chamber of Commerce (DPMM) President Rizal Faris Mohideen Abdul Kader said the chamber gathered the feedback from the groups and studied them before recommending the best solutions to be considered by the Prime Minister's Office.
He said DPMM went to the ground and encamped in Langkawi for almost three months to identify the problems and find solutions to overcome the grievances faced by the entrepreneurial groups.
"The 18 initiatives announced by the PM, are based on the three-month study on the ground, meeting the 30 stakeholders, recording all their problems and suggestions, and discussing them with the experts.
"These were done to enable the approaches and initiatives announced would be suitable for Langkawi residents based on their requests. This is not for own self-gratification," he said in a statement here today.
Rizal commented that the 18 initiatives approved by the Prime Minister included the establishment of a digital shop to support the DPMM's programme to train 1,000 entrepreneurs to master the digital economy.
He said DPMM regularly held 'teh tarik' sessions with local entrepreneurs to find out their problems and study the best methods to solve them.
"We should not crave for self-gratification. We should not feel that we have all the answers to the problems confronting the Malay entrepreneurs and community. So, it is very important for us to go down on the ground and meet them.
"The findings and the relationships that we have forged by meeting them and enhancing friendship, through many 'teh tarik' sessions, have enabled us to understand the ecosystem they live in," he said.
Rizal said the DPMM's effort in boosting Langkawi's economy was made easier with the cooperation of government bodies such as SME Corp, Majlis Amanah Rakyat (MARA), Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC), and the Bumiputera Agenda Steering Unit (TERAJU).
"We are not a government agency or company, we are just a voluntary body mobilised by entrepreneurs on a voluntary basis together with the chamber's secretariat.
"What we can do is to look at the problems at hand, we try to understand what are the best solutions, who can play the role of helping solve the problems encountered and at the same time, we play our role," he said.
Among the 18 initiatives unveiled by the Prime Minister were the setting up of an Urban Development Centre, a RM100 million financing facility at special interest rates through SME Bank, and disbursement of RM5,000 grant each to 1,000 traders.
-- BERNAMA
