KOTA KINABALU: The Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Ministry has built 144 tamu desa (rural market) premises across Sabah and Sarawak with a total allocation of RM29mil since last year.
Minister Datuk Ewon Benedick said 22 of the markets were built in Kadamaian alone over the past two years.
“I have given extra attention to Kadamaian because I saw the need here since 2018,” the Kadamaian assemblyman said on Tuesday (Oct 28).
“Traditional markets are held actively in this area every week on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday,” he added after officiating the new Tamu Desa Tambulion Laut building in Kota Belud.
The new market, built with an allocation of about RM300,000 under the ministry, will benefit small traders and roadside stall operators who will move their businesses to the new site, providing them with a more comfortable and organised trading environment.
“The tamu at Kampung Tambulion Laut is held every Tuesday, and I believe this new facility will add value to the local economy and encourage more residents to take part in entrepreneurship,” Ewon said.
He also expressed appreciation to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim for the continued commitment through Budget 2026, which allocated RM20mil more for the implementation of tamu desa projects next year.
He noted that under Budget 2026, RM2.5bil has been allocated nationwide to support micro-entrepreneurs through agencies including Tekun Nasional, ensuring continued access to financing and sustainable rural growth.
He said the Tamu Desa Development Programme is part of the government’s broader community-based economic empowerment agenda, supported by the Skim Tamu Tekun Nasional, which has channelled RM9.8mil to 2,294 small traders across Sabah since 2023.
Phase One, carried out last year, saw 36 projects completed in Sabah and 13 in Sarawak, costing RM8.69mil and benefitting 1,958 traders.
Phase Two involved 25 projects in Sabah worth RM4.84mil and 26 in Sarawak worth RM5.15mil, benefitting 1,964 traders in both states.
Ewon said that for this year, RM10mil has been allocated for 46 projects in Sabah, including seven sites in Kota Belud, implemented through collaboration between his ministry, the district office and the Sabah State Development Office.
“Tamu desa facilities also function as community centres for weekly Tekun meetings, government agency programmes, and community activities.
“This project is not only about providing trading spaces but also catalyses rural economic development and community well-being,” he said.
Also present at the Kota Belud event were ministry secretary-general Datuk Seri Khairul Dzaimee Daud, senior ministry officials and agency heads.
In conjunction with the event, Ewon also launched the Happy Jualan Madani Koperasi programme, offering up to 50% discounts on consumer goods sold by cooperatives.
