Najib was accompanied by Dr A.T. Kumararajah, chief executive of the Secretariat for Empowerment of Indian Entrepreneurs when he met the business onwers at Sri Mayuri Restaurant in Shah Alam.
“The owner of Sri Mayuri Restaurant, Lakshmi and her husband Ravi Rajagopal used to sell bread on a motorcycle,” Najib related in a blog posting at NajibRazak.com today.
“Their food business then expanded to a food stall in Taman Sri Muda and later to a restaurant in Section 33, Shah Alam.” The couple then opened Sri Mayuri, which now has five branches in the Klang Valley.
The prime minister said Lakshmi also told him that her dream would not have become a reality without the aid and assistance provided by SEED and Tekun, the National Entrepreneurial Group Economic Fund.
The couple had received three loans amounting to more than RM50,000 between 2004 and 2013 which they used to renovate their restaurant and improve the kitchen.
Najib also shared the story of Erdaya Rajoo, who ventured into a small-scale livestock and vegetable business upon retirement from national car distributor Eon.
“He was tested when his wife died and he had to take care and support his four children on his own. With strong will and determination, he sought SEED’s support and guidance. He bought cattle and venture into sireh planting as his core business, all this with a loan of RM40,000 from Tekun. Now, he has a five-acre farm in Pajam, Negeri Sembilan,” Najib said.
“I was also told that he now owns and funds a welfare home for underprivileged children in Kajang, known as Pertubuhan Kebajikan Astana. The big-hearted Erdaya Rajoo is providing care for 28 children using the profit from his business,” the prime minister said.
Najib said he was also touched with the determination showed by a disabled entrepreneur, known only as Prakash, who was in the training and motivation business.
With his disability, Prakash is a holder of two Master’s degrees and is currently pursuing a doctorate in Legislative Terminology.
“His spirit and passion for motivation was kept alive with a SEED grant of RM5,000. What’s more interesting is he has managed to secure a training contract with a Zurich company. He hopes to become an icon to other persons with disabilities,” Najib said.
The prime minister also expressed hope that all those entrepreneurs would inspire other entrepreneurs in the Indian community to venture into business and create more success stories for Malaysia.
“God willing, the government will continue providing aid and assistance through various available incentives and funds,” he added.
– BERNAMA