by NUR HANANI AZMAN/ pic by RAZAK GHAZALI

PERBADANAN Usahawan Nasional Bhd (PUNB) has introduced a rent-to-own (RTO) scheme with an allocation of RM25 million for property purchased this year.

Its chairman Tan Sri Noh Omar (picture) said to date, RM5 million of the allocation has already been used.

He added that the easy scheme option offered by PUNB will help Bumiputera entrepreneurs to own their business premises and increase the number of Bumiputera landowners.

“Based on our survey, there are a lot of Bumiputera entrepreneurs who want to own property, however, many of them could not afford it.

“We will offer the RTO scheme to the current tenants of our 220 business premises,” he told reporters after visiting business premises owned by PUNB at Sri Rampai, Kuala Lumpur, yesterday.

Noh said upon tenants’ agreement, PUNB will consider the monthly rent as an instalment for the premises.

He believed that entrepreneurs have already invested a lot in their businesses and some of them may consider owning the business premises in the future.

“PUNB will also consider a proposal to purchase a new premise, depending on the entrepreneurs’ needs.

“We do not want to purchase an empty shop lot and later, there is no buyer. So, we will purchase new premises upon requests by the entrepreneurs,” he added.

PUNB is also open to fresh ideas such as opening a one-stop centre which can be developed by a group of passionate entrepreneurs.

“Automotive centres with mechanics, air-conditioner repairing specialists, spare part sellers and car paint service are among the areas we are looking into.

“The allocation is still plenty for now, hence, we believe this will benefit more entrepreneurs in the future,” he added.

The minimum price for the premises is RM500,000.

Meanwhile, PUNB is offering a 50% rental rebate for three months from Oct 1 until Dec 31 this year to its 220 tenants.

Noh estimated RM2.8 million of total rentals for that period where RM1.4 million will be collected, while the other half will be borne by PUNB.

He said this is to help entrepreneurs who are having temporary financial constraints due to the Covid-19 outbreak.

“PUNB previously offered a deferment of financing repayments and exemption of rent payments for its business premises from April 1 until Sept 30.

“We are bearing almost RM5.3 million of rentals for those six months,” he added.

Details on financing repayment will be announced soon.

PUNB aims to invest some RM220 million in 385 companies this year.

The group has funded a sum of RM58.8 million for 97 Bumiputera entrepreneurs nationwide in the first five months of 2020 with the highest amount of financing approved at RM28.7 million for the manufacturing, engineering and services sectors.