SHAH ALAM: In a move to reduce financial barriers for Malaysians, especially young people, seeking to start and run their own businesses, Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli has launched a new social enterprise model.
The former economy minister said the initiative aims to make business ownership more accessible through partnerships that share both risks and profits rather than burdening individuals with high start-up costs.
“The concept of social enterprise is still very new in Malaysia,” he said during the launch of the Fleximart convenience store here yesterday.
“We’re trying to create a model where partners come together to share responsibilities and earnings instead of shouldering all the costs alone.”
He noted that operating a typical convenience outlet previously required about RM500,000 in franchise fees, renovations and operational costs.
“We’re bringing that down to around RM150,000 through a Musharakah arrangement, where partners agree on who does what and who gets what without paying the fixed costs of a traditional franchise,” he said.
Musharakah is a financing structure in which partners pool funds and share profits and losses based on their respective contributions.
According to Rafizi, the model is designed to help Malaysians in their 20s gain hands-on entrepreneurial experience.
“Most young people today only have the option of employment, earning a median salary of around RM2,000 to RM2,500. What the country really needs is for more young people to learn how to run a business,” he said.
Under the new framework, operational partners will receive a pre-profit salary of about RM2,000 along with a share of profits – a system meant to encourage them to act like owners rather than employees.
Rafizi said the initiative also seeks to challenge the normalisation of high consumer prices in Malaysia.
“We’ve accepted RM15 coffee as normal, but in reality, the cost of an Americano is only around RM3. We can sell it for RM4 and still make a profit,” he said, adding that cooked meals priced at RM5 could also remain profitable while maintaining quality.
The Pandan MP expressed hope that the model would help address food inflation by promoting fair pricing.
He said the enterprise will undergo a two- to three-month trial period to test its market viability.
“We’ll see if consumers are willing to switch to more affordable options without compromising on quality. If they do, this model can be scaled up across the country,” he said.
Rafizi, who leads the Ayuh Malaysia platform, said the project complements initiatives such as the Inisiatif Pendapatan Rakyat, which provides income opportunities for graduates and homemakers through vending machines and other community-driven ventures.
“It’s a steep learning curve, but if proven sustainable, we can expand it nationwide – creating jobs, empowering young entrepreneurs and keeping essential goods affordable,” he said.
Fleximart, which opened yesterday in Seksyen 7, Shah Alam, focuses on ready-made meals priced below RM5 and affordable groceries, while Kesum, a value-meal eatery, is set to open on Nov 8 in Pandan Indah.
