PENANG, 10 January 2026 – Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) continues its commitment by providing support to ensure the long-term operations of street hawkers, small business keepers and micro-entrepreneurs through its ‘Program Usahawan MADANI 2026’ that was organised recently.

The programme was coordinated with fundings from a division of the Penang Prime Minister’s Department, the ‘Bahagian Penyelarasan Penyertaan Bumiputera Pulau Pinang, Unit Penyelarasan Pelaksanaan, (Implementation Coordination Unit /ICU).

The programme featured ‘Forum Suara Penjaja, Peniaga Kecil dan Usahawan Pulau Pinang’ which serves as a platform for participants to talk about real challenges faced by them, among which are capital constraints, the need for digitalisation, and limited access to markets.

The Forum also gathered expert panellists, which comprised of the Dean from the USM School of Social Sciences, Associate Professor Dr. Mohamad Shaharudin Samsurijan; USM Alumni Entrepreneur, Nazar Yamat; and entrepreneurial development figure, Norizan Shariff, all whom shared academic opinions, practical inputs, and inspiration in dealing with the micro-business landscape.

A sharing session by a number of agencies and financial institutions was also held, which include Agrobank, Companies Commission of Malaysia (SSM), Penang Halal International (PHI), Bank Simpanan Nasional (BSN), Penang Youth Development Corporation (PYDC), Malaysia Communication and Multimedia Commission (MCMC), Bank Islam Malaysia Berhad (BIMB), Penang Regional Development Authority (PERDA), and Penang State TEKUN Nasional.

The respective parties involved shared with the participants a number of information regarding practical support, funding, compliance, and access to business development opportunities.

USM Board of Governor member, Datuk Wira Ir. Dr. Shaik Hussein Mydin in his opening speech said that, success for entrepreneurs is not only determined by individual effort, but is also driven with the support of knowledge, equipment, and network.

He later presented the participants with digital business kits to enhance their capabilities in applying digital knowledge, brand-building and managing operations in a more professional manner.

Also present at the programme were USM Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Industry and Community Network, Professor Dr. Azlan Amran; representatives from fund providers; and Assistant Director, Economic Development Unit ICU Penang, Nur Atiqah Ariffin to symbolise the close cooperation between the academia and government agencies in supporting the economic empowerment of micro-entrepreneurs in the state.

Meanwhile, USM Vice-Chancellor, Professor Dato’ Seri Ir. Dr. Abdul Rahman Mohamed also shared his views on the ‘Usahawan Madani Pulau Pinang 2026’ programme.

He emphasised on the commitment given by USM, as part of the APEX agenda, to empower the bottom billion group in society via the transfer of knowledge and technology resulting from research done at the university, with the aim of raising income levels, improving living standards, and the opening of job opportunities.

Original Text & Photo: Unit Peneraju Inovasi Sosial dan Pemindahan Ilmu, Industry & Community Network Division (BJIM) USM/ Translation: Mazlan Hanafi Basharudin