T'ganu Women Take Up Food Truck Challenge

More and more people, especially single mothers, are taking to mobile food trucks as an entrepreneurial way to earn a living, or to supplement their income.

And Terengganu has taken the cue from the initiative by the federal government to popularise mobile food trucks at permanent sites and at Pasar malam and carnivals.

In a report in the New Straits Times, Menteri Besar Datuk Ahmad Razif Abdul Rahman said the mobile food truck phenomenon was growing, more so with initiatives to promote the trade under Budget 2018. “And women folk are not forgotten as more of them are venturing as entrepreneurs in the state,” he added.

Already, the Pasarnita site in Kampung Tanjung in Jalan Sultan Zainal Abidin has become the first permanent mobile food truck site in the country for women to sell anything from food and beverages to clothing, household items and souvenirs.

“The state is looking at offering similar facilities for mixed genders at Dataran Shahbandar, Pantai Batu Burok, Seberang Takir and the Gong Badak sports complex. This is in line with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s initiatives for more women and men to become successful entrepreneurs,” said Razif to the New Straits Times.

Under Budget 2018, RM100 million will be allocated to expand the eRezeki, eUsahawan and eLadang Programmes to be managed by the Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation.

A total of RM120 million will be allocated to 1,000 1Malaysia Food Truck and 1Malaysia Mobile Food Kiosk entrepreneurs to be distributed by Bank Rakyat and Bank Simpanan Nasional with a subsidised interest rate of four per cent.

Additionally, a total of RM25 million has been allocated for the Three-Wheel Motorcycle Programme under the Federal Agricultural Marketing Authority, GiatMara mobilepreneur programme and MyAGROSIS.

New Straits Times also reported that Razif, who is the state assemblyman for Seberang Takir stated that mobile food trucks were also popular at large public events that involved sports, community carnivals and recreational events.

“We have found mobile food trucks very successful when screening ‘live’ sports events like soccer matches and the Sea Games at Dataran Permata in Seberang Takir,.”

He said mobile food trucks were an ideal and affordable platform for many to venture into business in their own small way. He continued, “Those who are industrious can expand their businesses as it picks up, thereby also offering job opportunities for more.”.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister’s Department’s adviser on Women Entrepreneurs and Professional Development, Tan Sri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil had announced that other states would have mobile food trucks introduced very soon.