Ewon pledges to empower SMEs, e-commerce

PUTRAJAYA: The Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Ministry will continue to empower digital-based small and medium enterprises (SMEs) nationwide, especially in Sabah and Sarawak.

Its minister, Datuk Ewon Benedick, who began his official duties today, said the matter is in line with the agenda discussed at the special Cabinet meeting of the Unity Government chaired by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim this morning.

Ewon, who is also United Progressive Kinabalu Organisation (UPKO) vice-president, said Anwar had asked the Cabinet to focus on development in Sabah and Sarawak as enshrined in the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).

"I believe this will be part of the ministry's focus, not just involving cooperatives but SMEs that are based on information and communication technology (ICT) and e-commerce in Sabah and Sarawak....(they) will be empowered by this ministry," he told reporters here.

According to Ewon, he would also continue holding engagement sessions with industry players and entrepreneurship-based associations in the country.

In addition, Ewon said he would consistently engage with the media because he believed they were among the strategic partners of the ministry and the government in delivering information and new policies to the people.

Earlier, Ewon, 39, arrived at the ministry at 12.15 pm and was welcomed by the ministry's secretary-general Datuk Suriani Ahmad and her deputy Datuk Zamri Salleh.

The Penampang MP, clad in an all-black suit, then clocked in to begin his duties as the Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Minister.

Ewon is one of two MPs from Sabah sworn in as a minister in the Unity Government Cabinet last Saturday. The other is Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department in charge of Sabah and Sarawak.

-- BERNAMA