Newly minted Minister for Ministry of Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives is off and running to assist Small Medium Enterprises who are facing serious issues since the pandemic. In his maiden parliament remark to questions on addressing the woes, Tan Sri Noh Omar has hinted that a special committee will be set up to solve their problems.
According to the Minister, the committee will be headed by the secretary-general who will cooperate with the entrepreneur associations, and work with them in order for the assistance provided by the government will reach the target groups.
As the country cautiously enters its recovery phase, ministries have been tasked to assist sectors of the economy that are in dire situation. In addition to financial support other form of support that is under consideration is to offer virtual offices for those who find themselves no longer having a premise due to the current circumstances.
“We know that many have had to close their offices and wish to restart their businesses but cannot afford to do so, so this can probably help to ease their burden said Noh.
There are also other ministries who have set aside funds to assist entrepreneurs, for instance Rural Development Ministry via MARA has allocated RM324.3 million to help those affected by the Covid-19 outbreak. To-date, the agency has approved business financing amounting to RM311.36 million for 2,966 entrepreneurs under three financing schemes, including the Micro Prihatin Business Financing Scheme.
With the aim of recovery, all ministries are cooperating and working together to pull the country out of this induced coma. Assistance in all forms must be given and more importantly they have to be targeted to groups that are most effected.
