KUBANG PASU: As the impact of Covid-19 continues to affect many people, struggling small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) owners in Kedah have lauded the government's move to consider offering a new round of loan moratoriums.
Kubang Pasu Malaysian Bumiputera Women Entrepreneurs Association (Usahanita) deputy chairman Ruslina Ruslin said many of its members were struggling to service their loans due to the sharp hike in costs of doing business after the pandemic.
"We welcome the government's decision to consider another round of loan moratorium for the entrepreneurs.
"Many of our members are facing challenges to service loans while having to deal with pricier input materials.
"The prices of cooking oil, flour, eggs, and even plastic packaging have gone up and the price of some materials have doubled," she said at the "Karnival Usahawan Wanita Kedah 2022" programme in RTC Napoh here.
The carnival was opened by state Women, Family and Community Development and Welfare Committee chairman Datuk Halimaton Shaadiah Saad.
Ruslina, who runs a food and beverage company, said she herself had to shut down her own production premises as she could not afford to pay rent.
"I had to move my production operations to my house and also laid off half of my employees.
"So, yes, we would really appreciate it, if the government could consider another round of loan moratoriums for entrepreneurs," she said.
Traditional cake trader Rohana Jamaludin, 47, who earned roughly RM1,000 a month from her business, also welcomed the moratorium.
Rohana said she had shut down her shop at Arked Mara Kuala Perlis as she was struggling to pay rent and service her business loans.
"I am struggling to pay back my business loans to Mara. I would really appreciate another round of moratorium, as I need time for my business to recover from the pandemic," she said.
On Sept 12, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob announced that the government would consider a special loan moratorium for SME owners who were still struggling to get back on their feet.