A GROUNDBREAKING partnership between the National Entrepreneurial Group Economic Fund (Tekun Nasional) and TikTok Shop aims to establish 12 LIVE Hub studios across Malaysia, empowering local entrepreneurs and boosting their market presence.
The studios will be set up in key regions, including Sabah, Kuala Lumpur, Penang, Johor, Kelantan, and Sarawak, as part of a comprehensive initiative designed to enhance the competitiveness and visibility of small businesses in the digital marketplace.
Minister for Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Datuk Ewon Benedick announced the launch of the initiative, which offers a state-of-the-art live-streaming platform for entrepreneurs to sell their products.
The LIVE Hub studios will provide entrepreneurs with a dynamic space to engage directly with customers, fostering real-time interactions that drive sales and improve their market visibility.
“The LIVE Hub initiative allows entrepreneurs to use live-streaming as a tool to not only sell their products but also enhance their competitiveness by interacting with a broader audience,”Bernama reported Ewon saying, adding: “The focus is on increasing viewership during live broadcasts and boosting engagement through high-quality content.”
Between January 31 and February 11, a total of 29 live selling sessions were hosted on the platform, collectively lasting 58 hours. These sessions garnered over 760,000 live views and facilitated the sale of more than 200 products from Sabah on the TikTok Shop platform.
The collaboration between TEKUN Nasional and TikTok Shop also includes additional support for entrepreneurs, such as training programs, workshops (both basic and advanced), and the TEKUN MADANI Carnival, which promotes local products.
As part of the initiative, TEKUN Nasional has also launched the TEKUN Online Financing Scheme (SPOT), offering special financing options to help entrepreneurs grow their TikTok Shop businesses.
This includes covering the operational costs of the LIVE studios, marketing, and paid advertising.
Ewon highlighted the success of the initiative in Sabah, where the number of Sabah-made products on TikTok Shop increased eightfold after training sessions were held between December 2024 and January 2025. The collaborative efforts during the TEKUN MADANI Carnival also generated significant sales, with RM5.3 million in revenue from various locations.
Notable achievements during the carnival included RM3 million in sales from Penang, RM1.17 million from Kuala Langat, RM1.11 million from Hulu Langat in Selangor, and RM5,000 from Kuala Penyu in Sabah. These figures reflect the growing success of local entrepreneurs as they leverage the digital marketplace to expand their businesses.
One standout success story is that of Ahmad Hishamuddin Ahmad Khairuddin, a TEKUN entrepreneur from Kuala Langat, who saw his monthly sales soar from RM70,000 to RM463,000 in just three months. This dramatic increase followed his participation in the training and guidance provided by TEKUN Nasional and TikTok Shop.
The collaboration between TEKUN Nasional and TikTok Shop is poised to transform the entrepreneurial landscape in Malaysia by providing entrepreneurs with the tools, support, and platforms they need to thrive in the digital economy. – February 16, 2025
