BUTTERWORTH: The Bumiputera Agenda Steering Unit (TERAJU) approved nearly RM134 million in financing for 143 Bumiputera companies in the Northern Corridor Economic Region (NCER) in the period from Dec 1, 2024 to May 31, 2026.
Deputy Economy Minister Datuk Mohd Shahar Abdullah said the financing was channeled through various TERAJU programmes aimed at strengthening the growth of Bumiputera companies in the northern region.
He said that 260 companies from the northern region had also submitted applications for TERAJU financing programmes, reflecting growing confidence among Bumiputera entrepreneurs to expand their businesses.
"This figure shows a very positive message. It demonstrates increasing confidence among Bumiputera entrepreneurs to grow,” he told reporters during the TERAJU Aspirasi Outreach Pulau Pinang 2026 programme here today.
Mohd Shahar that since 2016, TERAJU, through strategic collaboration under the NCER, has supported 61 Bumiputera projects with total investment of more than RM1 billion.
He said these efforts were further supported by the Facilitation Fund amounting to RM132.71 million and have created nearly 3,000 job opportunities for people in the northern region.
According to him, these achievements demonstrate that the Bumiputera development agenda, which is implemented consistently, can deliver tangible results while highlighting the huge potential to further strengthen Bumiputera companies in the northern region.
He said the government, through the Bumiputera Economic Transformation Plan 2035 (PuTERA35), focuses on enhancing quality Bumiputera participation in the economy, strengthening Bumiputera ownership of assets and wealth, and expanding their participation in strategic sectors.
Today’s event also saw the exchange of two memoranda of understanding (MoUs) between TERAJU and two companies, MMC Engineering Sdn Bhd and Malaysia Rapid Transit Corporation Sdn Bhd (MRT Corp).
TERAJU chief executive officer Junady Nawawi said the agency is committed to bringing Bumiputera economic empowerment and development opportunities directly to the northern region.
"Through strategic collaboration with key industry players such as MMC and MRT Corp, we are widening access to financing, capacity-building, and actual markets for local entrepreneurs,” he said.
Earlier this year, TERAJU also introduced three strategic development programmes -- ASCEND, ENHANCE, and XCELERATE -- designed to help Bumiputera companies increase their capacity, strengthen competitiveness, and accelerate growth in high-value sectors.
The agency also introduced the Bumiputera Strategic Acquisition Fund (BSAF), an equity financing and structured facilitation programme aimed at supporting strategic corporate activities of high-potential Bumiputera companies, including preparations for capital market listings, mergers, and strategic acquisitions.
The event also featured the handover of a project under the Bumiputera Entrepreneur Development Fund Programme to Universiti Malaysia Perlis through the Producing Mushroom Using Optimal Humidity System - Driven For Community initiative, which reportedly generated total revenue of over RM1.7 million. - Bernama
