KUALA LUMPUR – The government has offered aid from the National Economic Recovery Plan’s Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) Soft Loan Fund, which involves financing amounting to RM11.75 billion, to 24,824 approved SMEs as of March 19.
Finance Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz said among the funds are the special relief facility (SRF), automation and digitalisation facility (ADF) and all-economic sector facility (AES).
He said to help Bumiputera entrepreneurs, the government via Perbadanan Usahawan Malaysia Bhd has offered Bumiputera Relief Fund assistance amounting to RM200 million for the SMEs involved, with between RM100,000 and RM1 million channelled to 675 SMEs to date.
“Although SRF funds have been fully utilised, Bank Negara Malaysia still offers ADF, AES and agrofood facility funds, as well as other financing facilities.
“SMEs can apply for matching financing through the imSME platform.”
Tengku Zafrul said the government has also spent RM51.3 million in grants and loans for digitalisation service subscriptions; RM100 million in loans with 3.5% interest and RM30 million in grants for creative industries, events and exhibitions under MyCreative Ventures; and RM10 million under the Malaysian Cultural Economic Development Agency (Cendana).
“For Cendana, the recipients consist of artists, as well as collectives and organisations involved in the Malaysian arts and culture sector.”
For the empowerment of people with disabilities (PWDs), the government has allocated RM26 million to increase the maximum salary eligibility limit from RM1,200 to RM1,500 under the Disabled Workers Allowance assistance, expected to benefit 5,000 PWDs. – Bernama, April 1, 2021
