KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 11 — The government has disbursed RM5.19 billion in funds to 292,530 micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and cooperatives up to November, to support those still recovering from the Covid-19 pandemic.
Deputy Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Minister Saraswathy Kandasami said the funds were disbursed via the Tekun Niaga Financing Scheme, the Ikhtiar Financing Scheme, and Bank Rakyat’s MSME financing.
The government, via the relevant ministries, would continue to implement capacity-building programmes as well as offering facilitation and entrepreneurial support for MSMEs, including cooperatives affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.
45,014 entrepreneurs have undergone programmes like the Institut Keusahawanan Negara Bhd (Insken) Business Training, Perbadanan Nasional Bhd’s (Pernas) Business In Transformation, and SME Corporation Malaysia’s Micro Entrepreneur Business Development (BizMe) programmes.
“The Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Ministry (Kuskop) increased the provision of business premises and space, as well as opportunities to penetrate both domestic and international markets for 3,025 entrepreneurs via programmes like the UDA Holdings Bhd’s Entrepreneur Incentive Programme and SME Bank’s Business Exports Programme,” she told the Dewan Negara today.
Saraswathy was responding to a question from Senator Datuk Shamsuddin Abd Ghaffar on the government’s progress in reviving entrepreneurs adversely affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.
“Kuskop has also collaborated with the Credit Counselling and Management Agency (AKPK) to implement the Second Chance Intervention Programme to assist entrepreneurs facing serious financial difficulties and risk of bankruptcy,” she said.
In 2022, 664 entrepreneurs were apprised of the availability of second chances through various government initiatives.
“Of this total, 40 entrepreneurs were selected to participate in Insken’s four-month Special Guidance Programme,” Saraswathy added.
— Bernama
