KUALA LUMPUR: A total of RM300 million will be allocated to micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and small and medium enterprises (SMEs) for the development of the Entrepreneur Digitisation Empowerment Programme (Pupuk).

Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said this was following the Shop Malaysia Online programme announced under the Penjana economic package last year, which had helped more than 200,000 local entrepreneurs increase their sales through e-commerce platforms, with a transaction value of RM1.8 billion.

In unveiling the Pakej Perlindungan Rakyat dan Pemulihan Ekonomi (Pemulih) assistance programme today, he said to support the digitalisation agenda and encourage cashless transactions, the government would allocate RM200 million to MSMEs and RM100 million for SMEs.

The government, he added, would continue the Shop Malaysia Online and Go-eCommerce Onboarding campaigns, targeting over 300,000 micro-entrepreneurs such as bazaar, farmer's market, night market, and 'warung' stall operators, as well as handicraft entrepreneurs to switch to online business and use e-cash systems.

"The government would provide an additional RM100 million allocation under the SME Digitalisation Grant, enabling SME entrepreneurs to obtain matching grants of up to RM5,000 for the purchase of systems or digital platform subscriptions.

"Thirdly, the government encourages the participation of MSMEs to venture into e-commerce platforms through the Small Entrepreneurs Digitalisation Empowerment programme led by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC).

"In this regard, strategic collaboration between digital platform providers, telecommunication companies and community internet centres will be strengthened to help rural entrepreneurs get involved in the digital economy," he said.

The prime minister also said the government would empower agri-entrepreneurs, particularly in rural areas, to use the latest technology under the Agricultural Sector Digitisation and Transformation Programme.

The programme, implemented with collaboration of the Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation and the Farmers' Organisation (Pertubuhan Peladang Kawasan), would identify potential farmers to transition to new technology platforms.