KUALA LUMPUR, August 13 - All state governments, ministries and agencies implementing entrepreneurship and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise (MSME) development initiatives are required to submit programme achievement reports.

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr. Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the report should be submitted to the SME Integrated Plan of Action (SMEIPA).

His party has also given a two-week deadline starting today to complete the report before strict action will be taken.

This action is crucial to reduce overlapping programmes among agencies and thus reduce wasting government resources.

“I used today’s meeting to draft a letter to chairman and head of department or chief executives officers of companies that have not reported to SMEIPA, two weeks starting today.”

“We want this information to reach the secretariat to be conveyed to the Prime Minister as the Finance Minister to be included in the budget speech," said Datuk Seri Dr. Ahmad Zahid Hamidi to reporters in a press conference after chairing the National Entrepreneurs and MSME Development Council Secretariat Meeting in the capital.

To date, there are 40 programmes worth RM32.8 billion whose details have not been reported under SMEIPA.

Meanwhile, the Barisan Nasional (BN) candidate that will represent the Unity Government in the N.29 Mahkota State Assembly by-election in September.

Its chairman, Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said it is customary for the party holding the involved state assembly or parliamentary seats to be contested again by the party concerned.

He said the matter will be discussed in the UMNO Political Bureau and Supreme Council meeting and then brought to the Unity Government Secretariat Council.

"We know that the Mahkota State Assembly is a state assembly in a potential area for us to continue to win and of course we want coordination to be done with all political parties in the Unity Government," Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamid added.

Elaborating further, Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamid does not want any statements to be issued by leaders from other parties claiming the seat in the state assembly.