PPPMB to hold first meeting since election
By Rosli Abidin Yahya

(L-R): Hj Ilmi, Hj Abdul Rahman and Hj Johari

Shortly after taking up appointments as newly elected executive committee members, the 15 officials from the Federation of Brunei Malay Entrepreneurs (PPPMB) are set to fulfil their promises to other members by holding their first meeting on May 5 at the Hariza Restaurant, Beribi commencing 7.30 pm. Hj Abdul Rahman Yusof, the new permanent chairman of PPPMB said the first meeting would be conducted to execute their vows to other members.

He said the main objective of PPPMB's formation is to look after the economic interests of Malay entrepreneurs in the era of globalisation, trade liberalisation and electronic economy.

"The executive committees shall find way to avert bureaucracy and red tapes which had tremendously slowed down our business activities. We will then deliver our proposals to the relevant agency so local entrepreneurs can take a leading role in driving the national economy without facing such difficulties.

"For example, the Lesen Rampaian issue must be solved as the length of time it takes for businessmen to wait for such licences has hampered their business ability, physically, financially and economically," he said.

Hj Abdul Rahman was talking to the Bulletin in announcing the tentative date of the first meeting of the newly elected executive committee.

Present with him at the session were the new secretary general Hj Ilmi Hj Ghafar and his deputy Hj Johari bin Pehin Dato Hj Omar. The press briefing was held at the Hariza Restaurant yesterday.

"We will also bring up the issue of labour quotas which is difficult for some of us to acquire. We call this a form of discrimination that also hampers our business activities.

"Furthermore we will be penning down our five-year plan for the federation which will see us through to the next election," he said, adding that a vision to be accomplished in the next five years would be for PPPMB to have its own commercial building.

He added that the committee will also highlight feasible ways to elevate the status of the small and medium enterprises towards their awakening to the regional and global challenges.

"Such awakening will also benefit the nation since several of our members have expanded, from the traditional traders to the professional businesses of engineering and consultancy services.

"With the advent of free trade and increasing collaboration in international economic cooperation, our entrepreneurs are beginning to branch out their networking and investment activities in Asean and more specifically in BIMP-EAGA (Brunei Indonesia Malaysia Philippines - East ASEAN Growth Area)," he said.

He added the last agenda for the May 5 meeting will be to discuss preparations for the federation's silver jubilee celebrations.

Earlier, Dr Hj Abdul Latif bin Chuchu, PPPMB's president had said that the silver jubilee's celebration would comprise various events such as trade expositions, concerts by local and regional Malay performers and an award ceremony in recognition of services of members in business and other areas.

Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin