KUALA LUMPUR, May 23 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has urged agencies to increase field visits to provide explanations and aid to traders unaware of financing facilities and assistance provided by the government.
Anwar, who is also finance minister, said the matter was important to ensure the group is not left out from benefiting from the various initiatives created specifically to help increase their income and expand their businesses.
“There are some who are still unaware of the facilities available, so I ask the relevant agencies to go to the ground and provide explanations,” he told reporters after visiting the Taman Melawati Farmers’ Market here today.
He said hawkers and small traders should continue to be given attention, as there are hundreds of thousands of them but lack a strong platform on which to voice their views.
Anwar said the feedback he received from hawkers and small traders during his visit was generally positive, with most expressing gratitude for the opportunity to obtain microfinancing facilities provided by the government and its agencies.
“I asked them myself. Most are already very grateful and thankful to the bodies and agencies that helped them, even for a RM10,000 loan,” said the prime minister.
Anwar also said most of them are more focused on earning a living than complaining about the challenges they face.
He said among the issues raised by traders was the relatively high price of certain essential goods they purchased, but the problem can be addressed through agencies such as the Federal Agricultural Marketing Authority (FAMA), which helps provide supplies at more affordable prices
“I asked whether there were any problems, whether they could obtain loans and afford repayments. Thank God, the feedback received has been very encouraging,” he said.
Previously, the Madani Government announced more than RM5 billion in microfinancing facilities for this year, expected to benefit more than 400,000 micro-entrepreneurs.
The facilities involve loans of up to RM100,000, with financing rates for certain schemes as low as 4 per cent per annum.
