The Malaysian Insight

ACTRESS, TV host and businesswoman Neelofa Mohd Noor has appealed to the new government to ease requirements and the red-tape involved in applications for business funding and grants.

She said that greater clarity is also needed on the functions of different agencies, in order to avoid confusion by applicants as well as the agency officials.

The founder of Naelofar Hijab, a modern range of headscarves for Muslim women, said Malaysian entrepreneurs have had to deal with numerous challenges due to the overlapping of services offered by government agencies, which makes it difficult for them to know where to go when help is needed.

She said she proposed for a restructuring of all the agencies so that there is a clear direction.

“What has happened in this past 20 years, it’s very complicated. For example, it’s hard to get funding… there needs to be a lot of information and documentation,” she told reporters after meeting the Council of Eminent Persons (CEP) at Ilham Tower today.

“But I would greatly appreciate if they cut down on the procedures, so we can obtain loans and grants in a much easier way,” said Neelofa.

She also appealed to the government to come down harder on the sales of imitation products, which are a threat to small-and-medium businesses.

Imitation products have become a big threat to her ‘hijab’ business, she claimed.

“I shared a lot from the perspective of my business. And the internal problems we face at Naelofar Hijab.

“For example, the problem of imitation products. We used to work with the ministry of domestic trade, cooperatives and consumerism, and the customs department, but the cost is too high for us to continue to solve this problem.

“I suggested to the council that when we lodge a report (against imitation products), they can work with the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) to immediately shut down the websites of those selling imitation products,” said Neelofa.

The 29-year-old currently has almost 700 official distributors nationwide, and three main boutiques stocking her products. She employs some 80 staff, including five fashion designers.

She has been reported to be looking at RM200 million in sales volume this year.

Naelofar Hijab distributors are also looking at setting up bases in neighbouring countries Singapore and Brunei.

Founder of FashionValet (FV), Vivy Yusof, who was also present to meet the council members today said that apart from adequate support from the government, local entrepreneurs need to boost their command of the English language if they hope to compete on an international level.

“As e-commerce entrepreneurs, we need more support from the government,” she told reporters.

“At the same time, entrepreneurs need to be ready to raise their command of the English language so they can be confident to face people (in the international arena),” she said.

Neelofa and Vivy have been named by Forbes magazine as among 30 most promising Asian entrepreneurs under the ages of 30. – June 18, 2018