KUALA LUMPUR, February 24 – The government agreed to bear the driving test fee for class B2 motorcycle licenses and taxi, bus and e-hailing licenses. It is part of the Budget 2023 allocation worth a total of up to RM40 billion for the benefit of small and medium micro business entrepreneurs (PMKS). The Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said, micro entrepreneurs and small hawkers are provided loan facilities under agencies such as Bank Negara Malaysia, Bank Simpanan Nasional (BSN) and Tabung Ekonomi Kumpulan Usaha Niaga (Tekun) with funds available amounting to RM1.7 billion.
“RM300 million ringgit is set aside to support micro businesses by women and youth entrepreneurs. BSN provides more than RM1 billion with a focus on Micro SMEs and hawkers. Tekun also provided RM330 million, including RM10 million to help youth from difficult families earn income through business. They were given capital to start delivery services using motorcycles. The government also agreed to cover the driving test fee for class B2 motorcycle licenses and taxi, bus and e-hailing licenses,” said the Finance Minister when presenting the 2023 Budget in the Dewan Rakyat on Friday.
He added that nearly RM10 billion in loan funds were provided by Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) for small and medium businesses (SMEs) to ease the financial burden of SMEs and support business expansion. The Business Financing Guarantee Company (SJPP) is ready to guarantee up to RM20 billion in SME loans with focus sectors such as high technology, agriculture and manufacturing guaranteed by the government up to 90 percent. The guarantee is also extended to financing by non-banking financial institutions such as credit leasing companies and cooperatives so that it can provide special benefits to small hawkers, he said.
