JOHOR BARU – The National Entrepreneur Group Economic Fund (Tekun Nasional) lodged a police report on Wednesday after its online application system for Informal and Micro Financing Scheme (SPIM) was believed to have been hacked.
Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Minister Tan Sri Noh Omar said initially, Tekun Nasional explained that the issue of delays was due to technical glitches, but after an internal investigation, it identified that the system had been hacked.
“I received complaints from the public about late payments, but this matter happened as the system was hacked on February 8, causing disruptions to the system.
“Tekun lodged a police report due to this. Even though the system has been hacked, Tekun will continue to make payments manually as well as through cheques,” he said at a press conference after a SPIM programme to help entrepreneurs revive their businesses affected by the Covid-19 pandemic here today.
He also said that the case did not involve any financial losses, and that the matter is under police investigation.
Noh said the ministry, via Tekun Nasional, launched SPIM to help entrepreneurs who are not only affected by Covid-19, but by the recent floods as well. Applications for the RM200 million fund were open from January 1 to January 15.
He said until February 15, a total of 23,767 applications had been received and 15,902 applications approved involving an amount of RM130.5 million.
“So far, Tekun Nasional has channelled a total of RM110.1 million to 13,370 entrepreneurs under SPIM via cheques and electronic fund transfers.”
He added that the disbursement of funds is expected to be completed by mid-March. – Bernama, February 19, 2022
