Rekindling the entrepreneurial spirit

It is a pity for the country that this spirit of entrepreneurship that emerges during Ramadan is not nurtured into something more lasting.

ENTREPRENEURS sprout like mushrooms during Ramadan. Many who are part-timers take a break from their regular job to make a killing during the month-long fasting month. Family recipies are turned into hot-selling food items to be sold at roadside Ramadan bazaars.


Stories are often told that some of these traders will make enough not only to have a merrier Raya but also plenty of savings for rainy days in the months ahead before the next Ramadan.

One story passed on by a friend is of a small songkok seller in his neighbourhood who claims to make some RM30,000 during Ramadan. How he wishes that the holy month lasts longer.

Sadly as soon as Ramadan is over, the brisk business will end too. Most of these part-time traders will go back to their regular jobs or small night market businesses and watch the world go around until the next Ramadan.

It is a pity for the country that this spirit of entrepreneurship that emerges during Ramadan is not nurtured into something more lasting.

Who knows given proper guidance and the much needed capital, some of these entrepreneurs - most who are Bumiputeras - can turn their "ayam golek" business into a global fast-food chain that Malaysia would be proud of. Unfortunately, the general attitude in this country is that the spirit of entrepreneurship is not much appreciated. Entrepreneurs are often regarded a dime a dozen, anybody can be one.

But for those who have tried their hands on starting a business - even a small roadside stall - know this opinion is far from true. It takes a lot of sacrifices and only those who are patient enough will see their business succeed. However, in this country, time and time again, we see some authorities trying hard to kill off this very spirit that built great nations.

One that sticks out like a sore thumb is the inquiries conducted by select committees of the Selangor state government. Soon after taking over power in 2008, the Pakatan-led state government went on a witch- hunting.

Selected businessmen were hauled up by government committees to justify contracts that were awarded to them by the previous Barisan Nasional's state government.

These so-called inquiries, under select committees, work on the assumption that these businessmen obtained their contracts because they were cronies of the previous government. The inquiries may take months, if not years, and when it is finally over and the businessmen absolved of all blames, the holding cost would have piled up and would no longer make the projects as attractive as before. Rather than stifle entrepreneurship spirit, authorities should know better to encourage it and provide the necessary assistance for entrepreneurs to flourish.

As for the Ramadan entrepreneurs, some angel investors out there may do well going around the roadside bazaars. Who knows they may find some "ayam golek" traders out there with recipies that may even match KFC.