Malaysian Government Business Support and Assistance for Small and Medium Enterprises: A Case of COVID-19 Pandemic Crisis

Abstract

In Malaysia, small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are the significant contributor to economic growth. However, since the coronavirus outbreak, Malaysian SME business activity has been severely slowed. Therefore, during this COVID-19 pandemic crisis, government business supports and assistances are indispensable because if SMEs go down, the country will be affected. This chapter will focus on supports and assistances provided by Malaysian government on SMEs impacted from the COVID-19 pandemic crisis. The chapter will be introduced with the background of SMEs in Malaysia, follow by scenarios of COVID-19, the Movement Control Order imposed by Malaysian government, and the impact of COVID-19 on SMEs. Next the chapter will discuss the government supports and assistances and follow by government monitoring on supports and assistances given. Lastly, the chapter ends with suggestions for SME recovery of COVID-19 pandemic crisis.