Today's Pick (24/07/12/132/826) Crossroads of faith and trade

Crossroads of faith and trade

LAST Saturday, Muslims in Malaysia ushered in the month of Ramadan, the Islamic month in which the Quran was first sent down by Allah swt to our beloved Prophet Muhammad (pbuh).
Today, globally, we are 1.6 billion strong brothers and sisters in Islam, and regardless of the school of thought, together Muslims all over the world will observe abstination from food and drinks, from dawn to dusk.
Ramadan is also a month when normal activities take a dip, and more focus is given to nourishing our souls through Quran recital, caring for the orphans and giving charity or "sadaqah" out of compassion and love for the Almighty.

In Malaysia, we are lucky in a sense that our fasting times are quite consistent, about 14 hours of abstaining from food and liquid (I wonder what it's like to be fasting 20 hours in places like St Petersburg!).

Iftar, or the breaking of fast, is when the "bilal" calls for the maghrib prayers, usually around 7.30pm. You can just imagine a hungry tummy being feasted a myriad of favourite dishes on the dinner table - from appetisers to porridge, soup, main, desserts and colourful drinks from hot to icy cold - all meant to quench our thirst and replenish depleted glucose and carbohydrate levels.

Without fail, it is also during this time of the year that commerce is at its peak! Never shop for your favourite food during Ramadan because on an empty tummy, everything becomes your favourite and instead of buying two pieces, you normally end up buying double your normal consumption, half of which ends up in the dustbins.
And the next day, you tell yourself that you will not succumb to temptation, yet the whole process repeats itself! (By the way, big mistake if you call me "makcik" to attract my attention to your stall, it's "kakak" for me and all the other "makciks" too please!)
Many would nod their head when I say not only Muslims look forward to this month, the month of Ramadan bazaar or Param (Pasar Ramadan), but the entire nation. We Malaysians believe that food connects us all and indeed we tend to flock around it, regardless of race, religion or background... truly one Malaysia!
For the hawkers and micro-entrepreneurs who take advantage to cash in at the Ramadan bazaars where consumer demand is at the highest, business is indeed unusual.
It is during this season too that food stalls mushroom at Ramadan bazaars nationwide and unregistered businesses spring up like grass in a meadow.
The way I see it, every year, this blessed month is indeed a golden month for our little "mom and pop" businesses to earn extra income. An annual opportunity for the business-minded to cash in and businesses to ring up profits indeed!
For the lower income group, they would even go to the extent of going on a month of unpaid leave just to grab this lucrative opportunity to earn an additional income for the family, so that they too celebrate a joyous Aidilfitri.
You would be surprised to know that they are earning an average of 10 months' salary in just 25 days of commerce during Ramadan.
That's the reason why we see the sudden appearance of people from all walks of life unleashing their spirit of entrepreneurship during this time.
Apart from Ramadan bazaars, Raya cookies and corporate hampers are also on high demand during this month as these are must have items. Profit margins are slightly higher in this segment, albeit competition is stiff.
I am still in the chapter of unregistered businesses when speaking of Raya cookies where samples go around the office blocks even before the first day of Ramadan.
I shall skip the chapter on baju kurung and baju Melayu as some of us make preparations at least three months in advance, else our tailors will not accept orders and you will be deprived of new outfits on the first day of Syawal.
Coming back to home-based business entrepreneurs selling Raya cookies, layered cakes, kerepek, as well as tailors operating from home who are cashing in big bucks during the month of Ramadan, I wish to see a transformation of sorts from this category of entrepreneurs.
Undeniably, small-scale businesses are benefiting from a month of lucrative trade.
But in the long run, for us to achieve a high-income nation, what we hope to see is that these "once a year" businesses continue operating and contributing to the nation's gross domestic product growth, not only in Ramadan, but in the full calendar year.
For that to happen, we need to take hold of their hands, by first formalising their business venture. Perhaps, one of the reasons that is holding them back is the "perceived hassle" of registering their businesses.
By virtue of registration and licensing being decentralised, each and every step taken will incur costs. Currently, those who wish to start a business will have to go through My Corporate Identity (MyCoID) for registration of business and the Business Licensing Electronic Support System (BLESS) to obtain business licensing.
In fact, the prime minister himself announced recently that registration of businesses is not only made easier, but has even been made cheaper, that is, RM50 for five years!
To add, one of the high impact programmes in the recently-launched SME Masterplan (2012-2020) aspires to integrate business registration and licensing. Doing business will now be made pain-free.
The plan is to create a one-stop on-line business facilitation system by having a single national business registration and licensing system. With this system in place, business will be simplified, procedures streamlined resulting in reduced time and cost.
It is estimated that this will contribute towards reducing the financial burden of compliance costs borne amounting to some RM729 million.
We hope to reduce the number of informal businesses with this new centralised system, after which we will continue with the process of hand holding to further groom these "toddlers" into matured young adults to compete in the global arena.
At times, I can't help to notice that it is the small ones that come up with the most brilliant ideas and concepts. Indeed, we have never been so serious in our work to create from "zero to hero" local champions.

Wishing all Muslim readers Ramadan Al Kareem Al Mubaraq. May this blessed holy month be a month full of serenity, forgiveness and guidance for all of us.

Source : New Straits Times

Date : 23 July 2012

Today's Pick (24/07/12/132/826)