Kota Kinabalu: Sabah Electricity (SE) has become the first company in Sabah to participate in the Vendor Development Programme under the Ministry of Entrepreneur and Cooperative Development following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Ministry.
Entrepreneur and Cooperative Development Minister Datuk Ewon Benedick said under the programme, the Ministry provides grant support of up to RM1.2 million to vendor companies securing contracts from anchor companies for innovation development and capacity building initiatives.
“To date, SE is the 39th company to sign an MoU with the Ministry. This agreement is among the outcomes of the Look East Policy Within the Nation that I introduced at the Ministry to address the specific needs of entrepreneurs in Sabah and Sarawak,” he told reporters after launching the Sabah Electricity Vendor Day 2025 here, Thursday.
He added that the Ministry is in discussions with Sarawak Energy and hopes they will become the 40th signatory and first from Sarawak to join the programme.
Through this MoU, bumiputera vendors registered with SE are eligible for various forms of support including training guidance, technical development, entrepreneurial advisory services and research and commercialisation assistance through the Vendor Capacity Development Programme and Vendor Research and Commercialisation Grant.
Ewon said during the 12th Malaysia Plan period, seven bumiputera companies in Sabah serving as vendors to five existing anchor companies received grants from the Ministry.
“Under the 13th Malaysia Plan, the Ministry targets 120 bumiputera vendor companies nationwide to benefit from these grants, including 15 companies from Sabah,” he said.
The SE is also eligible for double deduction tax incentives after being appointed as an anchor company for the programme.
“The Ministry is committed to ensuring entrepreneurs in Sabah and Sarawak continue to be empowered to become competitive, innovative and capable of penetrating national and regional markets,” he added.