AKPK developing TRP to assist SME borrowers facing cash flow problems - Yamani Hafez

Deputy Finance Minister II Yamani Hafez Musa said the borrowers would start encountering this problem once the repayment assistance under the National People's Well-Being and Economic Recovery Package (PEMULIH) ended as their income would be continuously affected.

"The details of this programme will be announced in the near future," he said when replying to a question from Datuk Mohd Salim Sharif (BN-Jempol) on assistance to borrowers through moratoriums at the Dewan Rakyat today.

Meanwhile, in response to a question on business financing facilities from Charles Anthony Santiago (PH-Klang), Yamani Hafez cited three reasons why some applications from SME were rejected by banks.

"These include insufficient cash flow, business not being viable and high levels of debt.

"However, entrepreneurs who need advisory services can contact SME customer service centres at financial institutions and BNM (Bank Negara Malaysia) Telelink on its website telelink.bnm.gov.my and Credit Guarantee Corporation Bhd (CGC) which provides an online platform that matches SMEs with appropriate financing based on business profile and scope of financing requirements," he said.

He said SMEs that did not have any financing avenue would also be referred to the ImSME financial advisory team for further assistance and if the financing application is still unsuccessful, they could also contact MyKNP, a financing advisory services unit under CGC.

Yamani Hafez said the total financing facilities approved under BNM for the period of March 6, 2020 to July 28, 2021 amounted to RM16 billion, involving 37,959 SME accounts with an approval rate of 80 per cent of the total applications.

Of the amount, he said RM10 billion was allocated for Special Relief Facility (SRF) to more than 21,000 SME accounts with an approval rate of 78.1 per cent while RM3.2 billion of the RM6 billion allocated for the Targeted Relief and Recovery Facility (TRRF) was approved to 12,027 SME accounts with an approval rate of 83 per cent.

He said RM68 million of the RM800 million allocated for High Tech Facility-National Investment Aspirations (HTF-NIA) was also approved to 47 SME accounts with an approval rate of 81 per cent and RM389 million of the RM1 billion allocated to SME Automation and Digitalisation Facility (ADF) was approved to 338 SME accounts with an approval rate of 82.4 per cent.

Besides, he said RM6.5 billion was provided for the All Economic Sectors Facility (AES) of which, RM954 million was approved to 2,103 SME accounts with an approval rate of 77.7 per cent and RM1.398 billion of the RM1.5 billion allocated for the Agrofood Facility (AF) was approved to 1,868 SME accounts with an approval rate 91.9 per cent.

He added that of the RM600 million provided for PENJANA Tourism Financing (PTF), RM67 million was approved to 336 SME accounts with an approval rate of 63.5 per cent.