Deputy Minister Assures Govt Won T Leave Bumi Jeruk Producers In A Pickle

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PARLIAMENT | Deputy Entrepreneur and Cooperatives Development Minister R Ramanan said the government remains committed to supporting bumiputera fruit pickle entrepreneurs through various financing and grant programmes.
“For the information of the members of the house, the ministry is always committed to strengthening the competitiveness of micro, small and medium enterprises (SMEs), including entrepreneurs who run fruit pickle businesses - pickle, not pickleball,” he said in jest.
He was responding to Siti Mastura Muhammad (PN-Kepala Batas), who asked how the government is helping bumiputera entrepreneurs in the business of pickled fruit, known as “jeruk” in Malay, to improve competitiveness, obtain halal certification, and access wider markets locally and internationally.
PAS lawmaker Siti Mastura MuhammadRamanan was representing the ministry to answer the question as its minister Ewon Benedick had recently quit.
Ramanan explained that there were various initiatives to aid SMEs, including a programme by SME Corporation Malaysia for bumiputera enterprises.
This programme aims to increase productivity and certification of bumiputera businesses while also assisting with promotion and advertising, he said.
“Up to Oct 31, an SME company that runs a pickle business has been approved for a grant worth RM500,000 for the purchase of machinery and equipment.
“For Penang, in 2024, one bumiputera fruit pickle entrepreneur received financing of RM700,000 from SME Bank and six others received financing of RM173,000 from Tekun Nasional this year,” Ramanan added.
In response, Siti Mastura said, “If many people in Penang don’t eat pickles, that doesn’t mean it is something that is not important.” - Mkini

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