KUCHING: A total of RM20 million has been allocated this year to continue the Tamu Desa (community market) upgrading projects across Sarawak and Sabah, said Minister of Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives, Datuk Ewon Benedick.
Ewon added that the allocation includes RM10 million under the 2025 Federal Budget and another RM10 million announced by the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim during the MADANI Rakyat programme in Tawau last May.
“So, for this year, we have a total of RM20 million, same as last year, to continue the Tamu Desa projects in both Sarawak and Sabah.
“The aim is to improve, upgrade or build new community market spaces, especially in rural and interior areas.
“However, in the context of Sarawak, based on discussions last year, the Sarawak Government felt that existing markets should also be upgraded, such as what we saw today at Sungai Apong Market,” he said during the press conference after inspecting the Sungai Apong Market site here today.
Earlier, Ewon visited the Desa Market ( Tamu Desa ) project at Sungai Apong Market, where approximately RM363,000 was allocated for the upgrade.
“Based on my visit, I am satisfied with the implementation and outcome of the project at Sungai Apong, and in total, we have implemented 39 projects across Sarawak, involving an overall allocation of RM7.8 million.
“This initiative is part of the first round of projects introduced by the Ministry of Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives, aimed at upgrading tamu or community markets in both Sabah and Sarawak, starting in 2024.
“The same project continues this year in 2025, and for Sarawak, we will be holding discussions with the state government on the implementation mechanism, especially considering requests from several Members of Parliament who have proposed support for rural tamu and stalls,” he said.
He also mentioned plans to meet with Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan, with whom the ministry had worked last year to ensure the smooth implementation of the Tamu Desa projects in Sarawak.
