KUALA LUMPUR: Government-linked microcredit agencies have been urged to go to the ground and assess the situation faced by small traders, hawkers and micro-entrepreneurs, instead of waiting for them to seek assistance.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said the move was necessary following a report by the Khazanah Research Institute, which found that existing loan facilities were not being fully utilised as many were unaware of the assistance available.
Anwar said he had recently called representatives from several microcredit agencies to discuss the implementation of their programmes, including Bank Simpanan Nasional, Tekun Nasional, Bank Rakyat, Amanah Ikhtiar Malaysia (AIM), Majlis Amanah Rakyat (Mara) and Agrobank.
“We should not expect the people to come to our offices. Instead, we must go down and explain the benefits to them.
“For example, we can see many small-scale groups who are starting businesses, but sometimes they only need loans of RM10,000 or RM20,000, and the repayment rates are very good.
“For AIM, the repayment rate is almost 100% among women, while for men, it is about 95%, which is still good.
“This means they do repay the loans. Access to financing is therefore easier for the lower-income group,” he said after visiting the Taman Melawati Farmers’ Market on Saturday (May 23).
Earlier, Anwar also witnessed the launch of a collaboration programme between Agrobank and the Federal Agricultural Marketing Authority (Fama), aimed at strengthening support for agro-entrepreneurs and small traders
Commenting further, Anwar said the approach of government agencies going to the ground was in line with reforms under the Ekonomi Madani framework aimed at improving the public service delivery system.
“More importantly, it is aligned with the value of compassion, ensuring that the assistance and facilities provided by the government truly reach those who genuinely need them, with no group left behind.
“In the face of a global supply crisis that is putting pressure on operating costs and business supply chains, these micro-financing facilities are important in helping small traders, hawkers and micro-entrepreneurs obtain the capital support they need,” he added.
Last week, the government announced micro-financing facilities amounting to more than RM5bil for 2026, which are expected to benefit more than 400,000 micro-entrepreneurs.
The facilities involve loans of up to RM100,000, with financing rates for certain schemes as low as 4% annually.
