KUCHING: Entrepreneurship has no fixed boundaries and continues to evolve alongside changes in technology and society.
Minister of Youth, Sports and Entrepreneur Development, Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, said the competition aimed to instil a spirit of competitiveness and innovation among aspiring young entrepreneurs, in collaboration with higher learning institutions, particularly Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM).
He spoke to reporters at the Sarawak Sports Village after officiating the closing ceremony of the Sarawak Youth Business Idea Competition (SaYBIC) 2025/2026 on Sunday (June 21).
He said the programme included an innovation competition in which students and aspiring entrepreneurs presented products or ideas that could potentially be commercialised by interested parties.
“This is part of the effort to create that feeling of competitiveness and innovation among up-and-coming youth and entrepreneurs, especially those still in university or higher institutions,” he said, adding that the products showcased – ranging from food to other categories – were impressive.
Asked about how youth business models differed from those of larger, established companies, Abdul Karim said the boundaries of entrepreneurship were constantly evolving and had no fixed limit.
He cited the music and telecommunications industries as examples, noting how cassette tapes had been replaced entirely by digital formats, and how public phone booths had given way to mobile phones capable of connecting people across countries instantly.
“Every change brings opportunity – opportunities for those who have just graduated from university, not only in entrepreneurship but at every level, whether in the ministry or in universities,” he said.
Abdul Karim added that this could eventually require new courses and academic programmes tailored to current developments, citing the shift from general computer science studies toward more specific fields such as artificial intelligence.
He said the state administration’s own priorities had shifted over the decades, moving away from a focus on revenue generation through timber licensing toward newer areas such as carbon credit and green energy, including emerging sources like algae-based energy.
“The world is evolving, and we need to change according to what is happening in the world,” he said.
