Microcredit and Microenterprises Performance in Malaysia

Abstract

This study examined the effects of microcredit provided by Amanah Ikhtiar Malaysia (AIM) on the performance of microenterprises by the participants in Malaysia. This study adopted a cross-sectional design and the quantitative data were collected from a total of 387 borrowers of AIM. The findings revealed significantly positive correlations between microenterprises performances and economic loan, number of training programs, as well as hours of training programs. The multiple regression analysis further confirmed the positive and statistically significant effects of economic loan and number of training programs on the performance of microenterprises by the participants of AIM in Malaysia. However, the length of participation shows a negative effect on microenterprise performance. These findings highlighted the positive effect of microcredit on microenterprises performance such as access to credit, microenterprises' development training programs, and negative effects on the psychological aspect of the entrepreneurs by the microcredit availability and long-term credit. The government and development organisations in Malaysia should focus on designing fixable and diversified credit schemes with a watchful eye on the duration of the loan and training programs for the microenterprises in Malaysia.