Bank Negara allocates more funds to help SMEs

KUALA LUMPUR: Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) has announced an additional allocation of RM2bil for the Targeted Relief and Recovery Facility (TRRF), as well as the setting up of a RM200mil Disaster Relief Facility (DRF) 2021.

In a statement yesterday, BNM said the additional allocation would bring the TRRF to a total of RM4bil, and the facility was available until Dec 31,2021, or until full utilisation, whichever is earlier.

“Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) that are recipients of the Special Relief Facility and the National Economic Recovery Plan’s (Penjana) SME Financing are now eligible to apply for TRRF, subject to total financing not exceeding RM500,000.

“For SMEs in the tourism and tourism-related services sub-sectors, assistance remains available under the existing Penjana Tourism Financing, ” it said, adding that the updated features of the TRRF might be accessed at its website.

Meanwhile, on the establishment of the RM200mil DRF 2021, BNM said the facility was set up to alleviate the SMEs’ financial burden and assist in the resumption of business operations of SMEs affected by the recent floods in districts identified by the National Disaster Management Agency.

The central bank said that the DRF 2021 aimed to assist SMEs in covering the cost of repairs and replacement of damaged assets for business use.

“It is available to Malaysian SMEs, including micro-enterprises, with a maximum financing amount of up to RM500,000 per SME and up to RM75,000 per micro-enterprise.

“The tenure of the financing is up to five years, including a moratorium period of six months on both principal and interest payments. The financing rate is up to 3.50% per annum, inclusive of guarantee fee.”

It added that the facility would be available until July 31,2021, or full utilisation, whichever is earlier.

Affected businesses can apply for financing at a concessionary rate from participating financial institutions which comprise commercial banks, Islamic banks and development financial institutions regulated by BNM.

People can visit www.bnm.gov.my/covid19/ or www.bnm.gov.my/sme-financing for more details.

The public may also contact BNM at bnm.my/LINK if they face any difficulties with respect to the above facilities. — Bernama