KUCHING – The Sarawak Social Welfare Department (JKMS) has recorded a major milestone in its Economic Development Programme, with 773 entrepreneurs emerging from welfare recipients across the state.
The achievement was highlighted by Minister of Women, Children and Community Wellbeing, Dato Sri Fatimah Abdullah, during the closing ceremony of the Sarawak Wellbest Carnival 2025 on Sunday.
She said the outcome demonstrated that the initiative was not limited to financial aid but also acted as a catalyst for economic transformation, enabling vulnerable groups to move towards independence.
“The government is always committed and serious about producing entrepreneurs from monthly welfare recipients through structured and continuous grants and guidance,” she said.
Since its launch in 2020, the programme has supported 2,135 recipients with entrepreneurship grants amounting to RM10.6 million. Each eligible participant can receive up to RM5,000 in equipment support, aimed at helping them establish small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
Dato Sri Fatimah explained that grant recipients are placed under a two-year mentorship scheme, required to attend training modules, and encouraged to participate in sales activities such as the annual Wellbest Carnival. These measures are designed to ensure sustainability and long-term growth.
As of September 2025, 81 percent of the target of 410 new entrepreneurs had been approved, while 117 participants were officially released from the programme following two sessions of the Release Panel Meeting this year. Currently, 653 entrepreneurs remain under JKMS guidance, actively involved in district-level sales and carnival events.
The minister stressed that the programme reflects the government’s broader commitment to empowering welfare recipients through entrepreneurship, reducing dependency, and fostering resilience within communities.
The Wellbest Carnival itself has become a platform for participants to showcase their products, build networks, and gain exposure to wider markets. This year’s edition also featured side activities, including exhibitions and sales, which drew strong public participation.
Also present at the ceremony were Deputy Minister of Women and Children Development Sarawak, Datuk Rosey Yunus, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Datu Felicia Tan Ya Hua, and Director of JKMS, Semawi Mohamad, alongside other distinguished guests.
The success of the programme has positioned Sarawak as a model for integrating welfare support with economic empowerment, ensuring that assistance goes beyond temporary relief to create lasting opportunities for growth.
