TAMPARULI: The Ministry of Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives has disbursed RM7.96 billion in financing to 282,849 micro, small and medium enterprises and cooperatives nationwide in the first nine months of 2025.
Minister Datuk Ewon Benedick stated that the financing was channelled through seven agencies including SME Bank, Bank Rakyat, TEKUN Nasional, Amanah Ikhtiar Malaysia, Perbadanan Nasional Bhd, SME Corp and the Malaysian Cooperative Commission.
He announced that RM770.1 million was specifically allocated to 40,797 entrepreneurs and cooperatives in Sabah, with SME Bank alone approving RM314.3 million for 52 SMEs in the state.
Ewon expressed hope that financing would continue to expand to benefit more entrepreneurs and cooperatives after officiating SME Bank’s Corporate Social Responsibility programme.
Under Budget 2026, the government will focus on scaling up MSMEs with financing agencies playing a key role according to the minister.
Earlier during the event, SME Bank allocated RM20,000 to provide 100 B40 students from five schools in Tuaran with new eyeglasses.
Ewon commended the bank’s CSR initiative and urged more corporate and government-linked companies to implement similar programmes to support communities in need.
– Bernama
