Letter to Editor
By Datuk William Ng
THE Small and Medium Enterprises Association Malaysia (SAMENTA) noted the announcement by our Prime Minister for a total lockdown with effect from June 1 to 14 while allowing some economic sectors and essential services to operate.
While we await the full standard operating procedures (SOPs), we urge the Government to quickly put in place urgent assistance for our SMEs.
Specifically, we are hopeful that the wage subsidy can be continued and extended to end-2021, an automatic interest-free moratorium on all bank loans, and a reduction in utility charges for all businesses.
Many of our SMEs have run out of reserves. Some have reported that they are owing landlords and suppliers for months. They were hopeful that they can still deliver on some pending orders to recover some funds to pay these.
The total lockdown will make it difficult, if not impossible to do so.
Our SMEs have supported the Government throughout this pandemic. When the Government urged us not to lay-off any employee, SMEs have by and large kept all our staff; even as larger companies have retrenched staff.
When the Government urged us to help with the vaccination programme, many SMEs have encouraged their employees to sign-up for the programme.
At this critical juncture, we ask that the Government consider the plight of our SMEs and the millions of Malaysians that we employ and provide urgent financial assistance to our SMEs.
In the meantime, we urge all members and other SMEs to adhere to all SOPs, and to help bring the spread of COVID-19 under control.
Datuk William Ng is the chairman of SAMENTA Central as well as chairman for the association’s policy and government relations. Formed in 1986, SAMENTA is Malaysia’s oldest association for small and medium enterprises. Its mission is to champion the development of SMEs through a four-prong approach of policy consultation, market access, business amplification and capacity building.
The views expressed are solely of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Focus Malaysia.
