KUALA LUMPUR: Small and Medium Enterprises Association Malaysia (Samenta) is hopeful that the new government will continue to stand by the one million small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the country.
Chairman Datuk William Ng said the new prime minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, has been proven to support SMEs.
Ng said that Anwar was also among the most vocal defenders of SMEs during the pandemic, inside and outside the parliament.
"In all our engagements with him, he has highlighted the need for our SMEs to move up the value chain, be sustainable, and be ready to support the key focus economic sectors.
"We are hopeful that as prime minister, he will continue to stand by the one million SMEs in the country," he said in a statement.
According to Ng, as Malaysia emerges from the Covid-19 pandemic, the new government must prioritise several key issues, including lifting Malaysia out of its middle-income trap.
He said the new government could do this by focusing on industries and sectors where we have a distinct advantage while building on a strong SME ecosystem to support those sectors.
Meanwhile, Ng said the government should also introduce good governance and good regulatory practice to rebuild the confidence among foreign and domestic investors.
"There is also a need to rebalance the role of government-linked corporations (GLCs) in supporting our economic growth and the socio-economic agenda.
"This will help to uplift marginalised groups without unnecessarily stifling competition and choice.
"As Malaysia's oldest and largest association for SMEs, Samenta remains committed to supporting the government of the day in protecting the interests of our one million SMEs and the sustainability of our economy," he added.
Source: https://www.nst.com.my/business/2022/11/854617/samenta-hopes-new-govt-be-ready-support-key-economic-sectors