Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad with Entrepreneur Development Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Redzuan Yusof at the launch of the National Entrepreneurship Policy at the KL Convention Centre, July 11, 2019. — Picture by Hari Anggara

KUALA LUMPUR, July 11 — Putrajaya hopes there will be more entrepreneurs with integrity, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said today amid increasing reports of Malaysians turning to fraud, domestically and abroad.

In his speech at the launch of the 2030 National Entrepreneurship Policy here, the prime minister said successful businessmen were not only those who possessed strong discipline and grit, but also those who are trustworthy.

“Core values such as integrity and trustworthiness must also be nurtured with from the beginning.

“We want to create entrepreneurs, not businessmen who are good at scamming and cheating customers,” Dr Mahathir said to a packed audience at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre here.

Dr Mahathir also reminded entrepreneurs to always increase their knowledge if they want to be successful, especially if they wish to remain competitive in an age when industries are undergoing another technological shift.

“This is important as all entrepreneurs must be ready to face and undergo Industrial Revolution 4.0.

“Failure to follow through the developments and challenges brought by the Industrial Revolution 4.0 would then lead to our entrepreneurs being sidelined because of their unpreparedness,” he added.

Dr Mahathir said that entrepreneurs will form Malaysia’s economic core in the near future.

He said the government expects small and medium enterprises to contribute as much as 45 per cent of GDP by 2025.

He also said current teething issues concerning policies that have resulted in ministerial overlaps will be resolved soon so that more Malaysians will have an equal opportunity to jump on board the new economic growth engine, regardless if they were disabled, young, poor, women, or Orang Asli and Orang Asal.