TEKUN and BEEP accelerates entrepreneurial growth

16 March 2024

By Nabalu News Journalist

PENAMPANG: The journey of an entrepreneur is often marked by challenges, trials, and the unwavering determination to succeed. While success is attainable through sheer strength and perseverance, the process can be time-consuming, especially where expansion of business or augmentation of necessary tools are needed.

However, with the support and assistance provided by TEKUN and Bumiputra Entrepreneur Enhancement Programme (BEEP) plus, determined entrepreneurs can expedite their path to success, enhance their businesses, and reach new heights.

This is 40-year-old Rosaini Mokol’s experience through her journey to a successful business venture. The entrepreneur who hails from Kundasang Ranau began her entrepreneurial journey in 2017. She embarked on the cleaning business with mops, brooms and a vacuum cleaner.

This was a necessity for her due to financial issues and having moved out of her marital home in 2019, she became the sole provider for her three children, one of whom is autistic. Besides that, she also had to support her family, especially when her father fell sick. It was a lot on her plate but somehow her strength and tenacity to provide for them and to embark on a business boost her determination.

Setting up an office in Penampang, she went about sourcing establishments and houses to clean. She slowly built up her resources then. It was a stretch on her finance but she didn’t give up.

“I didn’t have sophisticated cleaning equipment. What I had were all basic tools, but I was determined to embark on a business. I was going through some domestic issue at that time and mostly it was financial. I was determined to strike out for myself and I did just that,” she shared.

She admitted that it was not easy but she never thought about giving up. All she wanted was to grow her business. At that time, she had five helpers.

“In 2017, I went to TEKUN for financial assistance where I acquired RM11,000. I used the money to enhance my business, acquire more cleaning paraphernalia. I managed to land more jobs and contracts to clean premises, such as apartment buildings,” she said.

After she paid off the first loan, she applied for another loan from TEKUN. She managed to get RM20,000 in 2023 and put the money to full use and that too went to expanding her business while employing more people. Her largest group was 56 people, mostly part-timers. She has five full time staff that can assist her for days when the big buildings don’t need her service.

This year Rosini, the tenacious single mother was accorded a grant of RM30,000 to go towards a sophisticated cleaning machine that will also make cleaning easier and more efficient for her staff and her. She now has an office and store in Penampang and service office and apartment buildings.

“I am happy with my achievement in this industry, with my efforts I can support my family on my own. I am also happy that I can accord part time workers an income, even though it might not be that big.”

These days her gross income is RM35,000 monthly which goes towards paying her five staff and office and store premises. Her company name is Bubble Shines Enterprise and she is one of many entrepreneurs that benefitted from BEEP Plus in Penampang.

“I am very grateful to the Minister of Entreprenier Development and Cooperatives Datuk Ewon Benedick for implementing the BEEP-plus to allow entrepreneurs in Sabah and Sarawak to get this financial assistance. We understand that BEEP had existed for a while for the whole country, but BEEP Plus is for us, so we have a better chance to acquire the assistance,” she said.

According to her this is a great encouragement for local entrepreneurs like her to grow while encouraging youth to embark on a business.

“I hope BEEP plus will continue to be available here in Sabah so that aspiring entrepreneurs can be assisted while established entrepreneurs encouraged,” she stressed.

TEKUN and BEEP are two powerful entities designed to empower entrepreneurs and facilitate their growth. By leveraging the resources and opportunities offered by these initiatives, entrepreneurs can significantly reduce the time it takes to achieve their goals and establish a successful business.

TEKUN is a prominent establishment that provides financial support to entrepreneurs, enabling them to realise their business aspirations. Through TEKUN, entrepreneurs gain access to funding that can be used to kickstart their ventures, expand their operations, or invest in new opportunities. This financial assistance acts as a catalyst, propelling entrepreneurs towards their goals and helping them overcome financial barriers that may hinder their progress.

BEEP plus, on the other hand, is a comprehensive programme aimed at enhancing businesses and facilitating their growth. By offering integrated support, it equips entrepreneurs with the tools, knowledge, and resources necessary to thrive in the competitive market landscape. Through BEEP, entrepreneurs can access grants, training programmes, mentorship, and networking opportunities that enable them to scale their businesses faster and reach a wider audience.