KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 28 (Bernama) -- Financing totalling RM3.8 billion under Bank Negara Malaysia’s (BNM) SME Stabilisation Relief Facility (SME SRF) has been approved as at Sept 30, 2026, benefiting more than 6,800 small and medium enterprise (SME) accounts.
In a joint statement today, the Association of Banks in Malaysia (ABM), the Association of Islamic Banking and Financial Institutions Malaysia (AIBIM) and the Association of Development Finance Institutions of Malaysia (ADFIM) said the approvals were under the facility’s initial RM5 billion allocation, based on BNM’s report.
“The additional RM5 billion announced under Budget 2027 brings the total allocation to RM10 billion, extending affordable working capital support to more affected businesses,” the statement said.
The associations reaffirmed the banking industry’s commitment to helping affected SMEs, including microenterprises, access working capital and appropriate financial assistance following the facility’s expansion.
The SME SRF supports viable SMEs facing temporary cash-flow pressure arising from the West Asia conflict, including disruptions to global trade and supply chains, to help them sustain business operations, the statement said.
“Participating member institutions will continue to assist eligible SMEs in understanding the facility’s requirements, preparing applications and identifying financing options suited to their business needs.
“Beyond new financing, banks will work with businesses experiencing financial difficulties to assess appropriate assistance, which may include repayment flexibility or restructuring of existing facilities, based on their circumstances,” the statement said.
The associations will also support outreach and financial education efforts to help SMEs better manage their finances and access reliable information on available assistance.
These efforts complement the industry’s ongoing engagement with businesses to identify challenges early and explore practical solutions, the associations added.
The SME SRF remains available to affected SMEs across all economic sectors until June 30, 2027, or full utilisation, whichever is earlier.
Micro, small and medium enterprises may refer to BNM’s website at https://www.bnm.gov.my/funds4sme for the list of participating banks or contact their banks directly.
-- BERNAMA