By Yasmin Ramlan
SHAH ALAM, Oct 25 — Yayasan Hijrah Selangor has raised its Indian community leaders’ allocation this year from RM3,000 to RM5,000 to conduct more meaningful skills and business enhancement programmes in their respective areas.
Its newly-appointed chief executive officer, Datuk Mearia Hamzah, said the allocation under the Selangor Indian Entrepreneur Development (Sitham) initiative will be distributed through the leaders statewide.
“This year, we have increased the allocation to RM5,000 to provide greater opportunities for the leaders to develop more impactful programmes.
“The additional funding also aims to ensure a wider range of activities can be implemented in the post-Covid-19 pandemic era,” she told the press after attending an appreciation ceremony for Indian community leaders under Sitham 2023 at the State Secretariat Building today.
Over 40 community heads attended the event today.
Earlier in her speech, Mearia said Sitham had benefited 3,730 participants from the Indian community to date, with RM409,700 spent to organise 106 skills and business-related activities.
She also announced that Sitham will be organising a one-week Deepavali carnival ahead of the festival next month, beginning November 5.
“The carnival will introduce a digital platform on TikTok for businesses. It is an opportunity for Indian entrepreneurs in Selangor to elevate their businesses online,” Mearia said.
The initiative to set up online and physical booths aligns with Menteri Besar Dato’ Seri Amirudin Shari’s vision to promote digitalisation.
This year's carnival will be held in three locations — Sri Muda, Ampang, and Klang — involving the participation of 150 entrepreneurs, compared to just one or two locations in the past.
[caption id="attachment_332193" align="aligncenter" width="784"]
Yayasan Hijrah Selangor chief executive officer Datuk Mearia Hamzah (front row, centre) with Indian community leaders during the Selangor Indian Entrepreneur Development appreciation ceremony at the State Secretariat Building in Shah Alam, on October 25, 2023. — Picture by NUR ADIBAH AHMAD IZAM/SELANGORKINI[/caption]
