PETALING JAYA ( WNAM MONITORING): The Association of Banks in Malaysia, the Association of Islamic Banking and Financial Institutions Malaysia and the Association of Development Finance Institutions of Malaysia have reaffirmed the banking industry’s commitment to helping affected small and medium enterprises, including microenterprises, gain access to working capital and appropriate financial assistance following the expansion of Bank Negara Malaysia’s (BNM) SME Stabilisation Relief Facility (SME SRF).
BNM’s report stated that RM3.8 billion in financing under the facility’s initial RM5 billion allocation has already been approved as at Sept 30, benefiting more than 6,800 SME accounts. The additional RM5 billion announced under Budget 2027 brings the total allocation to RM10 billion, extending affordable working capital support to more affected businesses.
The SME SRF supports viable SMEs facing temporary cash-flow pressure arising from the Middle East conflict, including disruptions to global trade and supply chains, to help them sustain business operations.
Participating member institutions will continue to assist eligible SMEs in understanding the facility’s requirements, preparing applications and identifying financing options suited to their business needs.
Beyond new financing, banks will work with businesses experiencing financial difficulties to assess appropriate assistance, which may include repayment flexibility or restructuring of existing facilities, based on their circumstances.
The associations will also support outreach and financial education efforts to help SMEs better manage their finances and access reliable information on available assistance. These efforts complement the industry’s ongoing engagement with businesses to identify challenges early and explore practical solutions.
The SME SRF remains available to affected SMEs across all economic sectors until June 30, 2027 or full utilisation, whichever is earlier.
