NST – Business Times
2 July 2026
Over RM500m in microfinancing approved for 30,000 entrepreneurs, says Amir Hamzah
More than RM500 million in microfinancing was approved between May 15 and June 26 alone, benefiting over 30,000 entrepreneurs, Finance Minister II Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan said. NSTP/MOHD FADLI HAMZAH
KUALA LUMPUR: More than RM500 million in microfinancing was approved between May 15 and June 26 alone, benefiting over 30,000 entrepreneurs, Finance Minister II Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan said.
He said the financing, channelled through AIM, Agrobank, BSN, Bank Rakyat, Mara, and Tekun Nasional, formed part of a broader RM5 billion microfinancing facility available to micro-entrepreneurs struggling with rising costs.
"The negative effects of geopolitical tensions and instability in West Asia have triggered a chain reaction on the global economy, including a surge in the cost of living and ongoing challenges also felt by traders, micro, small and medium enterprise (MSME) operators," he told the Dewan Rakyat during minister's question time today.
Amir Hamzah was responding to Datuk Andi Muhammad Suryady Bandy (BN-Kalabakan), who asked about immediate government measures to ensure small traders, hawkers, and MSMEs did not continue to bear the burden of global economic pressures.
On the government's guarantee scheme through Syarikat Jaminan Pembiayaan Perniagaan (SJPP), Amir Hamzah said it offered a reduced guarantee fee of 0.75 per cent per annum with a coverage of up to 80 per cent and a guarantee period of up to 10 years.
"This approach functions as a significant credit enhancement to enable and assist viable MSMEs with insufficient collateral to gain access to financing for working capital and capital expenditure purposes," he said.
He said the SJPP scheme, with a guaranteed capacity of up to RM5 billion, targeted affected sectors including agriculture, agro-food, logistics, transport, construction, and tourism.
Amir Hamzah said the government's overall financing support for MSMEs, including government loan facilities and guarantees, totalled RM15 billion through banks and government agencies, with the initiative ensuring MSMEs continued to obtain the working capital needed to maintain operations.
(Web source: https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2026/07/1478399/over-rm500m-microfinancing-approved-30000-entrepreneurs-says-amir)