KUALA LUMPUR, April 6, 2026 — Small and Medium Enterprises Association (SAMENTA) has awarded a solid “A” to Steven Sim for his first 100 days as Minister of Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives (KUSKOP), citing swift financial support measures for small businesses as a key achievement.
SAMENTA said the “Hebatkan Perniagaan Malaysia” campaign successfully channelled RM2 billion in financing to more than 88,000 micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in record time, providing critical liquidity amid economic uncertainty.
The association described the initiative as an effective “first-aid” response to support the business ecosystem.
SAMENTA National President William Ng commended the ministry’s ability to mobilise resources quickly, noting that Sim’s leadership reflects a high-energy, data-driven and communicative approach. He added that the minister has actively engaged stakeholders and addressed several longstanding concerns raised by SMEs.
However, SAMENTA stressed that moving from an “A” to an “A+” will require the government to go beyond financial assistance and tackle deeper structural issues.
These include the need to level the playing field with Government-Linked Companies (GLCs), address persistent labour shortages—particularly in service sectors—and accelerate efforts to reduce bureaucratic red tape at local council and licensing levels.
SAMENTA also called for a strategic shift from a “Made in Malaysia” model to a “Made by Malaysia” approach, urging stronger support for SMEs to build their own brands, intellectual property and global presence through targeted development programmes.
While acknowledging the constraints of a mid-term administration, SAMENTA said structural reforms are critical to ensuring the long-term competitiveness of Malaysia’s 1.1 million SMEs.
The association reaffirmed its commitment to working closely with the ministry to strengthen the SME sector and support sustainable economic growth.
— Minutes MY / Sugan Balan
