By BERNAMA / Pic By MUHD AMIN NAHARUL

THE government — through the Ministry of Entrepreneur Development — continues to give grants to Bumiputera entrepreneurs, but the assistance will only be given to those in the target group who are truly qualified.

Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Redzuan Yusof (picture) said the main function of the ministry is not only to give out grants, but is more towards assisting and opening up opportunities to entrepreneurs to boost their income.

“The main function of the ministry is to teach those who want to be an entrepreneur.

“If the entrepreneur is really keen and has direction, we will help by giving a grant to expand his endeavours,” he said.

“As such, I hope the people can change their thinking and no longer hope to be merely given free assistance,” he told reporters after visiting the Pekan Baru Complex in Alor Setar yesterday.

He was asked to comment on the statement of Parti Bumiputera Perkasa Malaysia VP Datuk Hamidah Osman, who suggested that the Pakatan Harapan government close down the ministry following its decision discontinue giving out free grants to Bumiputera entrepreneurs.

Hamidah was reported as saying that it is pointless for the ministry to exist if it could not help those needing assistance.

Meanwhile, Mohd Redzuan said the government will help by giving grants involving researches which have the opportunity to be commercialised to help speed up the start of an entrepreneur’s business activity.

“If the entrepreneur can give a commitment to the government and himself, we will help by giving a grant, but free money is unavailable.

“If you look at the record, there are those who only spent 50% of the money they received for business, they do other things with the other 50%.

“So, that is already abuse of grants that the government wants to reduce. (For) the previous government, (if) the entrepreneur knows the people there, they have a bright chance of getting free money, but the current government and ministry is more focused,” he said.

Last Friday, Mohd Redzuan was reported as saying that Putrajaya will no longer give free grants because it does not want entrepreneurs to be too dependent on the assistance. — Bernama