KUALA TERENGGANU: In view of the near-perfect repayment of their business loans, Amanah Ikhtiar Malaysia (AIM) is ever-willing to furnish more financing to women entrepreneurs.
AIM chairman Datuk Dr Zubir Harun said only less than 1.8 per cent of the total 326,009 borrowers nationwide failed to fully settle their outstanding amounts.
“This very few defaulters could not do so owing to various factors, like the downturn in their business or economy.
“Nevertheless, other fellow entrepreneurs are assisting them to recover the outstanding amounts,” said Dr Zubir.
He attributed the successful debt recovery to responsible women entrepreneurs, who made up 99 per cent of the AIM borrowers.
He added that 98.22 per cent of the total borrowers, who received loans worth RM18.44 billion at 134 AIM branches nationwide up to August this year, had fully settled their loans.
For Terengganu alone, he said 28,085 people had borrowed RM2.2 billion from nine AIM branches since 1989.
“And 98.64 per cent of the borrowers have settled their loans,” Dr Zubir said at the “Terengganu Ikhtiar Usahawan” programme at the Gong Badak sports complex.
Present was Terengganu Rural Development, Entrepreneurship, Cooperative and Consumerism Committee chairman Nawi Mohamad, who is also Hulu Besut state assemblyman.
Under 2018 Budget as revealed by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, RM2.7 billion has been allocated for AIM loans, of which Terengganu is expected to receive RM180 million.
The allocation is expected to benefit 400,000 AIM members.
Dr Zubir dismissed the notion that AIM’s members were outright millionaires.
“On the contrary, they are just small-time entrepreneurs who are able to generate a credible income through hard work and diligence.
“Many of them struggled to stay afloat in the initial stages as they lacked support and business acumen.
“Some, who were very poor, could not even make enough to pay for household provisions. But eventually, they succeed,” he said.
Dr Zubir lauded the spirited women entrepreneurs, some of whom could earn RM50,000 in gross income a month.