PEMUDAH Studying Measures To Speed Up Payment, Boost MSMEs Financing Access
PUTRAJAYA, Sept 22 (Bernama) -- The government is studying measures to expedite payments for services rendered as well as strengthen financing access for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), including through contract- and invoice-based financing.
The Economy Ministry said these measures were among matters considered at the fourth 2026 meeting of the Special Task Force to Facilitate Business (PEMUDAH), chaired today by Economy Minister Akmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir and Federation of Malaysian Business Associations (FMBA) adviser Datuk Dr Ameer Ali Mydin.
According to a statement, the use of alternative credit assessments, expanding guarantees provided by Syarikat Jaminan Pembiayaan Perniagaan Bhd (SJPP), and improving payment governance were among the proposals being considered.
"These measures are important as MSMEs account for 96.2 per cent, or 1.29 million, of business establishments, and contributed 39.7 per cent, or RM689.8 billion, to the gross domestic product (GDP) in 2025," the statement said.
The Economy Ministry said the work verification process was also given priority as part of the effort to expedite payments for services rendered.
According to the statement, the meeting also considered efforts to boost the regulatory ecosystem for licensed manufacturing warehouses to support industrial research and development (R&D) activities.
"This includes a proposal to establish a more specific and responsive R&D model framework to meet the sector’s needs," the statement said.
It was also proposed that the International Trade Technical Working Group, together with the Malaysia Productivity Corporation (MPC), spearhead the initiative, with the outcomes and the proposed new framework to be submitted to PEMUDAH within two months, the Economy Ministry said.
At the same meeting, the Department of Statistics Malaysia also presented Malaysia's economic growth performance for the first half of 2026, including the extent to which that growth has translated into higher incomes, employment opportunities and the people’s well-being.
The Economy Ministry said PEMUDAH will continue to serve as a platform for cooperation between the government and the private sector to address implementation constraints and refine practical solutions to facilitate business activities, strengthen MSME productivity, and support innovation and R&D.
"The government's priority is to ensure that reforms to the business environment result in more efficient processes, more reasonable compliance costs, and an ecosystem conducive to growth and innovation," the statement said.
-- BERNAMA