SHAH ALAM, May 21 — The state government has launched the Selangor Small Traders Transformation Assistance Programme (TABS) to provide training and guidance to entrepreneurs who have received equipment assistance.
State executive councillor for human resources and poverty eradication Papparaidu Veraman said the initiative aims to help small traders expand their businesses and goes beyond the provision of equipment alone.
Instead, recipients will also be given access to courses, mentorship, and business guidance to support long-term sustainability.
“Recipients under initiatives such as the Selangor Poverty Eradication Blueprint assistance programme and i-SEED had previously received aid in the form of refrigerators, sewing machines, and other business equipment.
“However, we now want to ensure that entrepreneurs are also equipped with the necessary knowledge and skills to grow…we want to provide training, guidance, ideas, and business support,” he told Media Selangor after the TABS launching ceremony today, adding that the state government plans to continue the programme annually.
Marketing and product quality remain the two biggest challenges for small entrepreneurs, underscoring the need for strong marketing strategies and high-quality products to compete in today’s market.
"The Selangor State Development Corporation (PKNS) and the organising team were tasked with helping entrepreneurs strengthen their marketing approaches and improve product quality so they could compete at least at the national level,” Papparaidu said.
According to the programme’s fact sheet, TABS is a phased entrepreneurship development initiative introduced this year to support the Selangor Poverty Eradication Blueprint by empowering small traders, increasing income levels, and building long-term economic sustainability among recipients of state assistance.
It targets micro and small entrepreneurs earning less than RM3,000 per month, either individually or at the household level, who are active business operators in Selangor and have been operating for at least one year.
Approximately 180 participants from across Selangor are taking part in the programme, with 20 entrepreneurs from each of the state’s nine districts.
Conducted over four months from May to September, TABS combines intensive training, business coaching, industry exposure, practical market exercises, and continuous monitoring by PKNS.
Meanwhile, PKNS Entrepreneur Development manager Yuzawati Yusof said the training programme consists of six entrepreneurship-focused modules beginning with basic business fundamentals and management improvement.
"The programme is fully coordinated by PKNS’ Entrepreneur Development Division with funding support from the Selangor Economic Planning Unit, allowing more comprehensive entrepreneurship programmes to be carried out,” she said.
Yuzawati also encouraged entrepreneurs who were not selected for TABS to participate in other entrepreneurship initiatives organised by PKNS, including one-day courses, workshops, and yearly modular training programmes.
