Najib shares success stories of Indian entrepreneurs

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak on Friday spent time with several Indian entrepreneurs and listened to their success stories, which were achieved with the government's help through TEKUN and Amanah Ikhtiar Malaysia (AIM).

Najib was accompanied by Secretariat for Empowerment of Indian Entrepreneurs (SEED) chief executive officer Datuk Dr A.T. Kumararajah when meeting with the entrepreneurs at the Sri Mayuri Restaurant in Shah Alam.

"The owner of Sri Mayuri Restaurant, Puan Lakshmi and her husband Encik Ravi Rajagopal used to sell bread on motorcycle.

"Their food business then expanded to a food stall in Taman Sri Muda and later to a restaurant in Section 33, Shah Alam," Najib said in his latest blog posting on NajibRazak.com.

He said the couple then opened the Sri Mayuri Restaurant, which now has five branches in the Klang Valley alone.

The prime minister said Lakshmi also told him that her dream would not have become a reality without the aid and assistance provided by SEED and the National Entrepreneurial Group Economic Fund (TEKUN).

He said between 2004 and 2013, the couple had received three loans amounting over RM50,000 to renovate their restaurant and upgrade the kitchen.

Najib also shared the story of Erdaya Rajoo, who ventured into small-scale livestock and vegetable business upon retirement from Edaran Otomobil Nasional Berhad.

"He was tested when his wife died and he had to take care and support his four children on his own. With strong will and determination, he sought SEED's support and guidance.

"The pensioner then bought cattle and venture into sireh planting as his core business, all this with a loan of RM40,000 from TEKUN. Now, he has a five-acre farm in Pajam, Negeri Sembilan," Najib said.