DPMM reinventing itself, renew mission

By ZAIDI ISHAM ISMAIL
editor@dagangnews.com

KUALA LUMPUR Nov 8 - IN the past, the Dewan Perniagaan Melayu (DPMM) has been somewhat quiet adopting a low profile.

But not anymore.

DPMM deputy president, Amirhamzah Karim said the organisation has reset itself to be more dynamic, pro-active and visible to all.

"DPMM wants to be there for its 700,000 members as well as uplift further the economic and living status of the Malays and Bumiputera," Amirhamzah told Dagangnews.com in an interview.

A usury free economy

Amirhamzah said the first step for DPMM to be more at the forefront is to convert the organisation and its members to be a usury free economy.

"We have identified interest payments which is forbidden in Islam as one of the many factors which impedes business growth and burden the businesses of our members.

"So DPMM is taking steps to ban usury in all business aspects of the chamber," said Amirhamzah.

Training businessmen to become "Niaga-usahawan"

Amirhamzah said DPMM's second reset is to retrain businessmen to also become entrepreneurs.

What is the difference between businessmen and entrepreneurs?

"Businessmen usually sell the top product of the day or the flavour of the month such as vape.

Businessmen don't aspire to be entrepreneurs but just want to sell for the day to make profits.

"DPMM wants to change that by training them to change their mindsets to be a hybrid of both the businessman and entrepreneur.

"We call this new breed "niagausahawan" and for this initiative, we will set up an entrepreneurship mediation centre to facilitate this paradigm shift," said Amirhamzah.

Focusing on the gig economy

DPMM will also give rejuvenated focus on the gig economy which is the new way of earning an income in this new era amid the pandemic.

The gig economy has given birth to a new breed of workers such as freelancers delving in a slew of industries such as e-hailing, e-commerce and the creative industries.

"Thus DPMM will do all it can to train the retrenched clerk to venture into the gig economy able to do 5 other office tasks simultaneously at home without holding a 9am to 5pm job."

Beefing up the economic pie

DPMM's next reset is to boost the Malay and Bumiputera economic ownership in the country.

Under the New Economic Policy, the Malays garner 17 percent of the country's economy, short of its 30 percent target. 

"DPMM wants to take this to another level targeting 50 percent Malay and Bumiputera ownership of the country's economy in 10 years.

"This will be a huge challenge but needs to be undertaken to uplift the well being and economic status of the Malays and Bumiputera." - DagangNews.com