Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) has welcomed the announcement by Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim in the 2026 New Year Message regarding an additional allocation for BNM’s Fund for SMEs, alongside the introduction of a credit guarantee scheme. The fund will receive an extra RM2.5 billion, prioritizing support for first-time borrowers.
To date, BNM has provided RM32.4 billion in concessional financing through participating financial institutions, aimed at improving access to funding for viable micro and small enterprises facing financing constraints. With the additional allocation, the total funding under BNM’s Fund will increase to RM34.9 billion.
Looking ahead, BNM plans to transition towards guarantee-based support, targeting RM10 billion in guaranteed financing. The credit guarantee scheme is designed to have a broader impact by supporting a wider range of SMEs, including first-time borrowers and new entrepreneurial ventures. The initiative will be implemented in partnership with Credit Guarantee Corporation Malaysia Berhad (CGC) and participating financial institutions.
