KUALA LUMPUR: The Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Ministry (Kuskop) has given its assurance to place utmost importance on assisting struggling small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
Deputy Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Minister Datuk R. Ramanan said discussions made with the Malaysian Indian Muslim Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Mimcoin) have identified critical issues SMEs face.
Among the challenges, he said, include how SMEs can develop their business and obtain financial assistance, infrastructure, networking, and workforce.
"Many of these are the necessary aids needed for them to grow their businesses and recover economically from the impact of Covid-19 and the global economic downturn.
"With the assistance provided by the government, we 100 per cent believe that SMEs can be strengthened and grow further.
"Among the support that Kuskop can provide to SMEs and Mimcoin are from existing agencies such as SME Corp, SME Bank, Bank Rakyat, Pernas (Perbadanan Nasional Bhd), and AIM (Amanah Ikhtiar Malaysia)," he said in a press conference after launching the Mimcoin SME Congress and Golden Dinar Awards 2024 at Menara Matrade, here.
Also present were Mimcoin president Datuk Jamarulkhan Kadir MS Kadir, Islamic Education Foundation chairman Datuk Seri Mohamed Iqbal Rawther, and the awards' organising chairman Datuk Hamid PV Abdu.
He said that the assistance provided to the SMEs would be inclusive to all groups, upholding Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's idea of no segmentation.
"We must follow what the Prime Minister previously stated. We do not want to segment or categorise Indians, Chinese, or Malays. We do this for all Malaysians under one voice.
"Mimcoin, as mentioned by Datuk Seri Iqbal, represents more than 1000 SMEs.
"If Mimcoin can be a spokesperson for them, for example, all requests from over a thousand businesses can be directed to Datuk Jamarulkhan or Datuk Abdul Hamid for a solution.
"Then it can be brought to me, any (relevant) minister, deputy minister, agency, agency chairman, or agency chief executive officer.
"It doesn't necessarily have to be within a specific ministry. At least, they know what is needed," he said.
Ramanan emphasised the importance of unity when dealing with issues faced by SMEs and finding solutions.
"Let's take the current hot debate on foreign workers as an example. Many say we need foreign workers, while others argue for using local labour.
"So, which one do we listen to? So that is one thing which I hope that we can all speak in one voice on; unity is the key."
He added that SMEs, being the backbone of the country, contribute to 40 per cent of Malaysia's GDP.
"Furthermore, 90 per cent of the workforce in the country comes from SMEs. So if they collapse, the workforce will also crumble.
"Therefore we give great importance to SMEs and hope to be good working partners and assist them in the best ways that we can."