05-07-2025
State Government allocates RM11.6 million to YUM this year
Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Haji Hajiji Haji Noor with YUM Tuaran members and families at Dewan Sri Sulaman Tuaran.
TUARAN (July 5): The State Government has allocated RM11.6 million to Yayasan Usaha Maju (YUM) this year to continue its Micro Credit Programme aimed at empowering local entrepreneurs, particularly among low-income women.
Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Haji Hajiji Haji Noor said the State Government is committed to assisting YUM in fulfilling its role by providing sufficient funds to allow it to operate and offer loan services to its members.
Under the 12th Malaysia Plan, he said YUM had also been allocated a RM10 million grant for its loan revolving fund, in addition to the annual grant from the government to fund some of its loan programme operational costs.
Speaking at the Tuaran YUM Family Day at the Dewan Sri Sulaman here on Saturday, the Chief Minister hoped YUM borrowers would repay their loans promptly, allowing more people to benefit from the programme.
'The success of borrowers in utilising the YUM loan effectively not only helps to increase their income, but also enables the agency to expand its efforts to assist more people in improving their livelihoods, thanks to a sufficient loan revolving fund.
'At the same time, YUM members must continuously enhance their business skills by participating in workshops, courses, training including those provided by other agencies, be innovative and to adopt the latest technologies in order to expand their respective business markets,' he said.
YUM is a state trust body under the State Ministry of Finance that provides micro credit services aimed at assisting hardcore poor households to lift themselves out of poverty through loan capital for undertaking income-generating activities.
'Since its inception in 1995, Yayasan Usaha Maju has become one of the most important agencies in empowering the people's economy at the grassroots level, particularly among the rural and interior communities,' he said.
The Chief Minister said YUM has disbursed RM805.25 million in loans, involving 152,021 loan units to 47,389 borrowers, with 18,888 members still having active loans.
'The loan repayment performance is also highly commendable, with a cumulative repayment rate exceeding 96 per cent. This indicates that the borrowers, all of whom are women, are good paymasters,' he said.
Meanwhile, nearly 20 per cent of the YUM's borrowers who were previously below the poverty line have successfully achieved a monthly income surpassing the poverty line.
'This is a notable achievement and proves that YUM's loan programme is capable of increasing income and lifting people out of poverty,' he said.
'I would like to congratulate all the staff of YUM on this achievement, as well as all its members who have made the best use of this micro credit services.
'I hope that this year, Yayasan Usaha Maju will achieve even greater success,' he said.
