WITH the Budget 2021 announcement shining a light on social enterprises, it shows that the Government is giving new recognition to the development and success of improving socio-economic welfare and community building.
Masala Wheels co-founder Kuhan Pathy believes that allocations given to the sector could help ease the burden of the urban poor and that any assistance channelled to the sector is important, especially in terms of ensuring sustainable income.
The social entrepreneur that helps solve social problems among high-risk youth also explained that the purchase of goods and services involved with social enterprises will directly benefit the community.
“Besides (financial assistance), there is also capacity building programmes offered involving socially responsible organisations, allowing government-linked companies (GLCs) and NGOs to show their support to the community empowerment initiatives,” Kuhan said.
Meanwhile, columnist Oswald Timothy Edward said that the Government’s allocation of RM20 mil to the Malaysian Global Innovation and Creativity Centre (MaGIC) will further encourage the development of social enterprises in the future and contribute in improving socioeconomic welfare and community building.
“Social enterprises, driven by social entrepreneurs, are designed to meet the social needs that have not yet been fulfilled by the Government and/or by the trade sectors,” Edward said.
“Social entrepreneurship, which aims at catalysing a social change by providing basic human needs in a sustainable way, could then be a key driver for sustainable development,” he added.
Edward also encourages more entrepreneurs to look into more socially responsible activities.
“Compared with the traditional entrepreneurs who see problems from a purely economic view, social entrepreneurs draw more potential in their personal experience and learn to handle social problems,” he opined.
“This is due to their strong convictions, their openness to others and their pragmatism, which enable them to innovate in an institutional environment conductive to collective learning.”
Edward suggests for the Government to re-distribute wealth, balance the markets and support all activities that generate socialisation by providing the necessary funding.
Getting the attention it deserves
According to EcoLoo Greentech Malaysia Sdn Bhd founder and nature-lover Zuraina Zaharin, social entrepreneurship has not been getting the recognition that it deserves, despite the sector’s attempts to solve various types of social issues.
As a person that has always been concerned about key environmental issues, Zarina’s interesting business venture was through creating portable toilets that turns food and human waste into compost and liquid fertiliser.
She points out the limitations of conventional toilets which are costly to build and maintain. “The water and electricity required to operate a (conventional) septic tank can cost up to RM30,000 (for a small populated area such as a village with a few thousand residents),” said Zuraina.
“Our solution is more cost effective and environmentally friendly,” she added.
During the time the article was written in 2018, EcoLoo toilets were being sold in 19 countries.
At the same time, Zarina revealed that EcoLoo had sold more than 1,00 units of portable toilets, including 10 to the Ministry of Youth and Sports which were used at the Bukit Jalal Stadium during 2017’s SEA Games. – Nov 24, 2020
