Kuala lumpur:<Text>

The Ministry of Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives (KUSKOP) is actively deploying four of its financing agencies to engage with micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) directly, offering advisory services and immediate financing assistance. Minister Steven Sim announced that these agencies-National Entrepreneur Group Economic Fund (TEKUN Nasional), Amanah Ikhtiar Malaysia (AIM), SME Bank, and Bank Rakyat-are consistently mobilized, particularly during the nationwide KUSKOP MADANI Sales program, aligning with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's directive for microcredit agencies to proactively reach out to entrepreneurs.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Sim emphasized that the initiative involves providing face-to-face advisory services and enabling on-the-spot registration for interested parties with complete documents. The approach shifts from waiting for customers to visit the office to actively seeking out entrepreneurs and petty trade rs to assist them. Sim shared these insights with reporters after inaugurating the Family Day Carnival, part of the Sungai Pinang state constituency KUSKOP MADANI Sales program.

In addition, Lim Siew Khim, chairman of the state Social Development, Welfare, and Non-Muslim Affairs Committee and Sungai Pinang assemblywoman, was also in attendance. The Prime Minister recently urged relevant agencies to enhance efforts to inform SMEs about government-offered financing facilities and assistance. This initiative is crucial to ensure that SMEs do not miss out on opportunities aimed at increasing income and business expansion.

Sim further stated that KUSKOP remains open to discussions with MSMEs facing cash flow challenges or those affected by economic crises and disasters. Assistance options include moratoriums and loan repayment rescheduling, part of the ministry's commitment to supporting MSMEs. He noted that the non-performing loan (NPL) rate among KUSKOP's financing agencies ha s improved over the past one to two years, with fewer borrowers defaulting on repayments.