Tenom: The Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Ministry (Kuskop), through Yayasan Bank Rakyat (YBR), will implement a special educational development programme in Sabah starting this year.
Its Minister Datuk Ewon Benedick said the Ehsan @ Kuskop programme was launched by Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor during the Santuni Madani Kuskop programme in Kota Belud, in conjunction with the Kadamaian Christmas Open House, recently.
AdvertisementHe said YBR has allocated RM3 million for the initiative and the implementation period will be one year.
Ehsan @ Kuskop is an educational development programme aimed at eradicating poverty through education.
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“I feel disheartened every time I hear that Sabah has a high number of people in extreme poverty. Rather than looking for someone to blame, I have decided to take the approach of being part of the solution to the poverty problem in Sabah by introducing Ehsan @ Kuskop,” he said.
Advertisement (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});“Through the allocation from YBR, we will cover the transportation costs for students listed in e-Kasih so that there will be no excuse for parents to not send their children to school.
“We will also provide assistance for early education, school supplies, tuition and other forms of support required by these students.
Advertisement (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});“As a pilot project, the Ministry has selected three districts, which are categorised as having a high number of people in extreme poverty, namely Kota Belud, Kota Marudu and Kudat,” he said after officiating the 2025 Christmas and New Year Open House of Upko Melalap at Datuk Seri Panglima Antanom Hall, here, Saturday.
Ewon also said through the Ehsan @ Kuskop programme, the Ministry and its agencies will help develop productive family members into small entrepreneurs.
“We will mobilise all the Ministry’s agencies to assist those listed in e-Kasih to become entrepreneurs so that one day, they not only escape from the grip of poverty but also contribute to the nation’s economic development,” he said.
He also said he had introduced the Look East Policy at Kuskop to ensure that no group of entrepreneurs, hawkers, small traders, or cooperatives in Sabah and Sarawak would be left out from receiving the benefits of government programmes and financing.
“This policy is one of my leadership approaches because I believe that leaders from Sabah, who have been given the opportunity to be part of the Federal Cabinet and lead ministries, can prove their ability to focus on East Malaysia, namely Sabah and Sarawak.
“That’s why I introduced the Look East Policy to provide space for the Ministry to offer the best services in East Malaysia, as required by the people, especially entrepreneurs, hawkers, small traders, cooperatives and students.
“We have also introduced several special initiatives, including the Bumiputera Enterprise Enhancement Programme BEEP Plus specifically for Sabah and Sarawak, Tamu Entrepreneur Financing Scheme, Tamu Desa Premises and the opening of more agency offices in Sabah and Sarawak,” he said.
Regarding the event, Ewon, who is also United Progressive Kinabalu Organisation (Upko) President, said it is part of Upko’s approach to engage with the people across Sabah, not only in urban areas but also in rural areas.
“We have been running similar programmes for the past few years in conjunction with Christmas, New Year, Hari Raya, Kaamatan Festival and other cultural celebrations.
“We implement these programmes year-round as part of Upko’s contribution to fostering unity and racial harmony, where we aim to nurture togetherness not just among leaders from Sabah but, more importantly, to promote unity among the people at the grassroots level,” he said.
