Mara boy’s car servicing success gets minister’s attention

 

PMH Sdn Bhd chief executive Mohd Izwan Mazlan briefing Mahdzir Khalid on the operations at the car service centre in Alor Setar today. With them is newly appointed ministry secretary-general Ramlan Harun (second from right). (Bernama pic)

ALOR SETAR: The success of a Mara vocational institute graduate in turning a workshop into a premium service centre received ministerial attention today.

Rural development minister Mahdzir Khalid, who was here to open the PMH Sdn Bhd service centre, said the centre was the result of perseverance by Mohd Izwan Mazlan, a former student of Institut Kemahiran Mara who is always looking for opportunities to improve the performance of the service centre.

“He is only 36 years old and is the second generation in the company, and managed to upgrade a regular car repair workshop to the level of a premium car service centre,” he said, Bernama reported.

Mahdzir said Mara provided assistance towards the purchase of equipment as well as working capital, workshop renovation and business improvement training.

He said Mara had spent about RM70 million through its Integrated Smart Auto initiative to help automotive entrepreneurs to expand their enterprises.

So far, 48 automotive entrepreneurs nationwide had benefited from the programme, which offers a maximum funding of RM1 million.

He said Mara efforts in developing the automotive industry ran from technical and vocational education at various levels, as well as the provision of entrepreneurship facilities, training, financing assistance and advisory services.

“A special financing scheme for automotive entrepreneurs is also provided specifically for entrepreneurs to help them expand their businesses and upgrade their workshops,” he told reporters.

He said several special programmes were also developed to strengthen entrepreneurs in the field, including the Mara-Petronas Automotive Entrepreneur Development programme, the Auto Glass Expert special programme and various entrepreneurship programmes targeting the expansion of the automotive business and industry.

He added that Mara would continue to be committed to helping entrepreneurs who were interested in expanding their business to be more competitive. - FMT