The Ministry of Defence (Mindef) has established the objective of granting ‘Sokongan Pengukuhan Keusahawanan Luar Bandar’ (SPKLB) support grants to 200 entrepreneurs who are veterans of the Armed Forces this year.
Deputy Defence Minister Adly Zahari affirmed that the SPKLB initiative is a collaborative endeavour involving Mindef, through the Ex-Servicemen Affairs Corporation (Perhebat), the Rural and Regional Development Ministry (KKDW), and the Majlis Amanah Rakyat (MARA).
Speaking at the ‘Pemerkasaan Usahawan Veteran ATM’ (Puvet ATM) event in Muar today, he stated, “We have chosen veterans engaged in diverse entrepreneurial pursuits to be recipients of the SPKLB support grant from KKDW, with each recipient receiving RM5,000.”
Adly stressed that Mindef places great emphasis on entrepreneurship, as almost 80 per cent of individuals who undergo training at Perhebat before retiring from the Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF) choose to pursue entrepreneurship.
However, he underscored that Mindef is also collaborating with the Ministry of Human Resources and other government agencies to create alternative income opportunities, in addition to entrepreneurship, for military veterans.
During a prior session, Adly distributed the SPKLB grant to 20 MAF veteran entrepreneurs in Johor. Through the Puvet ATM programme, veterans have access to business matching, direct entrepreneurial incentives, as well as facilities, training, and consultancy related to packaging, branding, and marketing.
The programme is designed to empower veterans in their second careers, particularly in entrepreneurship, with the objective of elevating the living standards of those in the B40 group.
Puvet ATM functions as a facilitator and connector to identify and provide entrepreneurial incentives, including expert services, facilities, grants, and the necessary training to support MAF veteran entrepreneurs in advancing their businesses. — Bernama