KOTA BAHARU, Feb 21 (Bernama) -- Entrepreneurs in PAS-led Kelantan have never been deprived of the business loans given to entrepreneurs in the other states, International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed said Saturday. This was evident from the fact that Kelantan held the record for the most number of loans among the states, he said.

"The government provided RM1.4 billion for 194,687 loans to entrepreneurs under the Tekun Nasional entrepreneur economic fund nationwide since 1999.

"Tekun Nasional provided almost RM200,000 for 21,035 loans to entrepreneurs in Kelantan during that period, the highest sum among the states," he said when opening the Kelantan Tekun Nasional office and business centre, here.

Mustapa said the business centre was the fifth of nine centres set up in Kuala Lumpur, Penang, Johor, Perak, Pahang, Sabah and Sarawak.

"Since it was established in 1998, Tekun Nasional has assisted more than 150,000 Malay and bumiputera entrepreneurs in the country.

"The aid has enabled many Malay and bumiputera entrepreneurs to become successful businessmen, progressing from small traders to small-and-medium scale businessmen," he said.

Mustapa also said that a special book on the success of Tekun Nasional entrepreneurs should published to motivate other bumiputera entrepreneurs to succeed in business.

Tekun Nasional managing director and chief executive officer Datuk Abdul Rahim Hassan said in his speech that Kelantan held the best record for loan repayments to Tekun Nasional among the states.

-- BERNAMA