KUCHING: Persons with disabilities (OKU) are advised to venture into business by utilising various types of assistance provided by the government.
This includes the 1 OKU 1 Business Scheme (S1OKU1P) by the Companies Commission of Malaysia (SSM) that allows the group to register new businesses and business licence renewal free of charge.
Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi said the initiative was part of the agency’s commitment in fulfilling its corporate social responsibility.
“The S1OKU1P initiative aims to promote this special group to enter the field of business legally, thus helping to improve their standard of living and socio-economic development.
“Through this, the group can register and renew their business at SSM for free,” he told reporters in Kuala Lumpur today.
By registering businesses at SSM, Nanta said this would boost the confidence of customers in conducting business, as well as the opportunity to expand their business potential.
“Having a legitimate business is very important for every entrepreneur, including OKU, to enable them to meet the application requirements for skills training assistance, financing assistance and various other initiatives provided by the government.”
As of Oct 31, 12,161 businesses have been successfully registered under S1OKU1P, with 1,686 OKU utilising the scheme between Jan 1 and Oct 31.
“It is a four per cent increase over the same period last year and we project the statistics to continue to increase until the end of this year.
“However, the number of persons with disabilities who benefit from this scheme is also seen to be low at only 2.4 percent compared to the total number of those registered with the Social Welfare Department (JKM), which is 581,265 as at Oct 31.”
Thus, he called on more groups to take advantage of the initiative.
Earlier, Nanta handed over SSM business registration certificate to Nasi Lemak Bujang Dekk’s Matt owner, Mohd Nor Abdullah, at Amber Business Plaza near Kedai Kek LRT Cheras, Kuala Lumpur.
This was followed by the handover of corporate zakat amounting to RM3,000 to the entrepreneur, presented by KPDNHEP secretary-general cum SSM chairman Datuk Seri Hasnol Zam Zam Ahmad, witnessed by SSM chief executive officer Nor Azimah Abdul Aziz.
