KOTA KINABALU – Sabah needs to create more job opportunities and assist young entrepreneurs to stimulate economic recovery.
Sabah DAP Luyang assemblyman Phoong Jin Zhe said the state should also continue the youth market plan that was drafted and initiated this year by allocating at least RM1 million for it.
These were some of the suggestions that he put forward for the government to adopt in its upcoming 2021 state budget.
“The Sabah government should provide free venues and subsidies for young hawkers, handicraft sellers and young entrepreneurs to set up stalls and operate their businesses.”
He said the youth market should consist of creative and dynamic elements as it will stimulate the domestic economy and encourage youth entrepreneurship.
“I hope that the government will continue the initiative and implement it statewide, including Luyang’s Foh Sang Carnival youth market, which was already part of the plan.”
The government should also integrate resources across ministries to provide better services to young entrepreneurs.
Phoong said that according to the original plan, the state government would allocate at least RM5 million to establish a one-stop youth centre – the Sabah Youth Aspiration Centre – to create a platform and opportunity for youths through entrepreneurship incubators to assist them to succeed with state government resources.
“I suggest that the government increase allocations from RM10 million to RM20 million for the Sabah Credit Corporation to provide more micro tscheme loans and youth entrepreneurship loans to allow more youths to have the chance to apply for loans.
“I am also recommending that the government lower qualifications by allowing borrowers to apply for loans without having to provide collaterals. It should allow more people to apply to refinance their businesses during the pandemic.
“The Warisan-PH coalition led by Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal was able to introduce the petroleum and natural gas sales tax that was meant to bring the state an additional RM1.25 billion in revenue.
“This was an achievement during our tenure, and the new government should utilise this new income by investing in public infrastructure developments and fixing worn-out facilities to stimulate the local economy."
He said that, for example, in Luyang, he has discussed upgrading recreational parks, rebuilding walkways in residential areas, and the RM4-million Foh Sang revitalisation project with relevant authorities.
“These initiatives should start in 2021 and will increase market cash flow, which will stimulate the Luyang and thus the Kota Kinabalu economy as a whole.”
He said the state administration should also establish or restructure a government-linked company to coordinate with the federal government regarding the RM150-million bus transformation initiative.
“We should emulate Selangor and Penang by allocating more than RM10 million to purchase and run modern buses, provide free bus services, build modern bus stops and hasten plans that are in place to allow Kota Kinabalu to have a more holistic, reliable and modernised public transportation system.
He added that the government should also expand the Covid-19 fund by increasing subsidies to ensure all groups are taken care of, especially hawkers, school bus operators, drivers, food delivery drivers, tour guides, cultural and art industry players, frontliners, media personnel, and others.
“I also suggest providing special elderly aid to those aged 60 and above, especially to the elderly who live alone. They should increase the Bantuan Am and monthly elderly subsidies from RM300 to RM500 monthly through the Welfare Department.”
Finally, Phoong said he hopes that the Sabah Youth and Sports Ministry would implement the state’s e-sports blueprint and allocate funds for its e-sports industry.
“We have a lot of e-sports talents in Sabah as a lot of youths have grown a passion for gaming-related activities after being forced to stay at home.
“The government should take this chance and cultivate more talents by organising e-sports competitions and provide them with online training and competitions according to the original plan,” he said. – The Vibes, December 16, 2020
