ALOR GAJAH, Feb 18 (Bernama) — The Melaka government via Perbadanan Ketua Menteri Melaka (CMI) is offering youths in the state low rental rates in business premises at Pulau Melaka here.
Pulau Melaka is a man-made island approximately 0.5 km off the coast of Melaka City, the state’s capital. It is part of the “Twin Island City Centre” waterfront project, which involves the reclamation of two islands measuring 40ha and 50ha each respectively.
Melaka Chief Minister Datuk Seri Ab Rauf Yusoh said youths who are interested can carry out businesses like food and beverage, tuition centres or homestays for a rental of RM600 a month.
The state Youth and Sports Department and Melaka Youth Coalition Council (MGBM) will be the coordinators of the initiative to open up opportunities for youths to start businesses.
“Currently, there are 617 shophouse units which are still vacant in Pulau Melaka and interested youths are asked to immediately apply under CMI or via their respective youth associations,” he told reporters here today.
“They have to do business for three years to qualify for a rental rate of RM600 per month for a shoplot compared to the actual rental of RM1,000 per month.”
He said this after officiating MGBM’s 40th Annual General Meeting (MPAT 40) which was also attended by Deputy Youth and Sports Minister Adam Adli Abdul Halim and the recently elected (2024-2026 term) MGBM president Datuk Seri Khaidhirah Abu Zahar.
Ab Rauf said the initiative has been implemented not just to produce more entrepreneurs among youths in the state but it is aimed at developing Pulau Melaka area which also includes Arab City Melaka.
In other developments, he said a centre of excellence will be developed to produce a highly skilled workforce through additional funds amounting to RM10 million received from the federal government to strengthen the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) programme in the state.
He said the workforce to be developed will fill the needs of the state’s industrial and investment sectors, and the initiative will ensure residents, especially the youth, will get job opportunities.
“This centre of excellence will be developed within the Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka (UTeM) to train highly skilled workers in collaboration with the university,” he also said.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim had previously announced additional funds of RM10 million to Melaka to strengthen the TVET programme in the state in collaboration with TVET institutions and industry players.
— BERNAMA