Majlis Amanah Rakyat (MARA) Betong had its office set up at Rural Transformation Centre (RTC) Betong in 2018.
With advisory services as its core business, it serves the population of all districts and sub-districts across Betong Division, in line with MARA’s overall responsibility of “developing, encouraging, facilitating and fostering the economic and social development… particularly in rural areas.”
Apart from its office, MARA’s presence in Betong includes two educational institutions and one commercial infrastructure:
- GIATMARA Saratok, which has begun operation in 2020, offers courses in fashion and dressmaking, automotive technology, and building technology
- MRSM Betong, which was established in 2009, is one of three current science and technology secondary schools by MARA in Sarawak. The other two are MRSM Kuching and MRSM Mukah
- Rumah Kedai MARA in Saratok, comprising 12 lots for entrepreneurs to rent for their businesses
According to MARA Betong district officer Dayang Hanisabirin bt Abang Othman, GIATMARA Betong, which used to be located in Bandar Baru Betong, has since moved to Spaoh Sub-district and is expected to start operating some time in 2022.
In an interview with RAKAN Sarawak, she added that her office had plans to purchase a shophouse in Betong town to establish a Rumah Kedai MARA.
Should it be approved by MARA headquarters, MARA Betong will be able to increase its presence by re-positioning itself within a more central and accessible area compared to its present site that is far from it.
The office’s location is perhaps one of the reasons why MARA Betong is not well-known in terms of entrepreneurial development and assistance; locals, especially entrepreneurs in Betong Division, find it a hassle to travel to an area away from the commercial part of Betong town.
“No one really wants to come to RTC Betong. People will call and ask us to come over to their place instead of them going to the office,” Ms Hanisabirin said.
Gradually, however, through the constant promotion and word-of-mouth of MARA Betong’s existence and services by the office as well as entrepreneurs who have utilised said services, she saw improved reception from the people of Betong.
This, Ms Hanisabirin noted, was evident with the amount of financial scheme disbursed to entrepreneurs between 2020 (Table 1) and 2021 (Table 2): from RM1.436 million to RM2.824 million.
At the time of the interview, there are 227 entrepreneurs or participants recorded in MARA Betong’s directory (Table 3). They are either those who have applied for financial assistance or attended courses organised by the office.
