THE Sarawak government will continue to provide soft loans at a low interest rate of 4 per cent based on monthly reducing balance through Skim Kredit Mikro Sarawak (SKMS) and Skim Pinjaman Industri Kecil dan Sederhana (SPIKS).
International Trade, Industry and Investment Minister Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan said to date, RM76.06 million has been disbursed which benefitted 1,965 small- and medium- enterprises (SMEs).
“This includes 437 B40 entrepreneurs who enjoyed interest-free loans up to a maximum of RM10,000 per applicant. Total loan approved for B40 entrepreneurs amounted to RM2.8 million.
“During the COVID-19 pandemic, the government provided interest subsidies for three-and-a half years to those eligible SMEs under SKMS and SPIKS. The said subsidies, totalling RM6.48 million, have benefitted 1,387 SMEs.
“Besides the interest subsidies, the government also provided moratorium for 12 months to the 636 borrowers of SPIKS and SKMS valued at RM14.36 million,” he said when delivering his winding-up speech in the state legislative assembly (DUN) yesterday (Dec 1).
The deputy premier also noted that the federal government provided soft loans under PENJANA packages through Special Relief Fund (SRF), Targeted Relief and Recovery Facility (TRRF) and PENJANA Tourism Fund (PTF) to 4,830 SMEs in Sarawak with a total loan of RM1.5 billion.
Meanwhile, a total of RM9.62 million has been disbursed to 1,114 SMEs for Program Graduan ke Arah Keusahawanan (GERAK) and Usahawan Teknikal dan Vokasional (USTEV), assisting graduates and school leavers with technical skills to start and expand their businesses.
“Go Digital Programme is to encourage SMEs to onboard digital entrepreneurship through grants to successful applicants. To date, 600 SMEs have benefitted from the programme totalling RM6 million.
“My ministry is also being tasked with implementing the Business Empowerment and Recovery Fund (BizFund) for business associations to organise capacity building and enterprises development programmes for their members.
“To date, my ministry has spent about RM14.3 million for the implementation of 84 programmes benefiting 3,350 participants,” he said.
