KOTA SAMARAHAN: The Women’s Leadership Apprenticeship Programme (PERANTIS) will be expanded to schools to equip more young women with entrepreneurial skills.
Minister of Women, Family and Community Development Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri said the ministry wanted to encourage more women, including female students, to acquire practical knowledge that could be transformed into viable business opportunities.
“We want to encourage more women to be given skills and be able to monetise whatever skills that they are given,” she told reporters after officiating the 3rd Sarawak Orchid Society (SARORSO) Graduation Ceremony 2026 at the PeTARY Auditorium, UNIMAS, on Monday (Jul 6).
Nancy said PERANTIS adopts a hands on apprenticeship approach that combines mentoring with practical exposure to entrepreneurship, enabling participants to develop confidence while exploring business opportunities.
She said the ministry was placing greater emphasis on the programme this year to encourage wider participation, particularly among young women and students.
“PERANTIS is more of a training programme.
“Participants who successfully pitch their ideas can receive funding of up to RM50,000, and many have already benefited from the programme,” she said.
Nancy said the ministry hoped to involve more young people by working closely with relevant agencies and educational institutions to widen participation in the programme.
“We want them to learn how to monetise the knowledge that they have.
“In short, we will work with schools as well,” she said, adding that the initiative reflects the ministry’s commitment to equipping young women with entrepreneurial skills from an early age, enabling them to create sustainable income opportunities in the future.
