29th April 2026 - 3 min read
Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) across Malaysia now have access to a RM5 billion financing facility from Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM), aimed at businesses affected by the West Asia conflict.The SME Stabilisation Relief Facility (SME SRF) offers working capital financing of up to RM750,000 at a capped rate of 3.75% per annum. If you run a small business and the conflict has made it harder to pay suppliers or keep stock levels up, you can apply from 15 May.
The SME SRF is available to small and medium enterprises, including microenterprises, that are experiencing operational disruptions linked to the West Asia conflict. You can apply for financing of up to RM750,000, with a repayment period of up to five years. The maximum financing rate is 3.75% per annum, inclusive of the guarantee fee.
If your business doesn’t have enough collateral to back a conventional loan, BNM has arranged for guarantees of up to 80% from Credit Guarantee Corporation Malaysia (CGC) or Syarikat Jaminan Pembiayaan Perniagaan (SJPP). The guarantee is aimed specifically at SMEs without sufficient collateral.
Applications open on 15 May 2026 and will remain open until 31 December 2026, or until the RM5 billion allocation runs out, whichever comes first.
You can apply directly through participating financial institutions, which include commercial banks, Islamic banks, and development financial institutions regulated by BNM. There is no separate government portal, so you apply through your bank.
BNM is strongly encouraging businesses to reach out to their banks as soon as they start experiencing cash flow difficulties, rather than waiting until reserves run out. According to BNM’s statement, financial institutions are committed to working with affected SMEs during this period, including through repayment flexibility, restructuring of existing facilities, or other support measures.
If your business is already struggling with repayments across multiple banks, Agensi Kaunseling dan Pengurusan Kredit (AKPK), the national credit counselling agency set up by BNM, offers free advisory and debt restructuring support. The Debt Management Programme (DMP) is available to individuals and sole proprietors. AKPK’s counsellors will work with you and your lenders to put together a restructured repayment plan that fits your actual cash flow. The Small Debt Resolution Scheme (SDRS) is built for SMEs. It gives you a structured way to negotiate with multiple financial institutions at once, without resorting to legal action.
Both services are free. You can reach AKPK directly or contact BNM for guidance.Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel for the latest money tips and updates.
As a creative content writer, Eloise has covered finance, business, lifestyle topics, and even moonlights as a singer-songwriter outside of RinggitPlus. Her current interests are learning the best ways to optimise spending and credit card hacks to gain more airline miles.
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