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KUALA LUMPUR: The government will provide a special allocation for small- and medium-scale enterprises (SME) in Sabah and Sarawak, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim announced.

While winding up the Supply Bill 2023, he said the additional allocation would be worth RM100 million in the form of Bank Simpanan Nasional (BSN) micro-loan facilities.

"I am expressing the need to support entrepreneurs and traders in Sabah and Sarawak.

"The government will also provide SME loan guarantee facilities worth RM500 million from banks," he said in the Dewan Rakyat today.

Anwar, who is also finance minister, said there was a need to reduce the income gap between those living in Peninsular Malaysia and those in Sabah and Sarawak.

In the 2023 Budget tabled on Feb 24, Anwar had announced that BSN would provide more than RM1 billion and government agencies up to RM40 billion in loan facilities and financing guarantees for micro, small- and medium-scale enterprises.

Source: https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2023/03/887568/anwar-additional-rm100-million-smes-sabah-sarawak