SMEs need grants not loans


THE economic stimulus package announced by the Prime Minister on March 27 is most welcome. However, while it sounds pretty relieving for households, there doesn’t seem to be much in it for SMEs (small and medium enterprises).

SME owners are struggling, unable to run their businesses as usual. Some have zero income – for example, those in the tourism industry – and it doesn’t look like things will be looking up for them anytime soon. SMEs make up a major chunk of the Malaysian economy and thus are in need of huge financial assistance right now to keep surviving.

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