Malaysia’s fintech firm microleap PLT, Commerce Access Sdn Bhd (CASB) and the Halal Development Corporation Berhad (HDC) have inked a strategic collaboration to help small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) access financing for government contracts.
Microleap said in a statement on Tuesday that the initiative aims to improve financing readiness and increase awareness of financing solutions available under the SARANA Program, which supports eligible SMEs and contractors undertaking government-related projects through participating Securities Commission Malaysia (SC) regulated peer-to-peer (P2P) financing platforms.
It is noted that government contracts offer significant growth opportunities for SMEs. However, many businesses face working capital challenges when mobilizing projects, purchasing materials, managing operational expenses and fulfilling contractual obligations before payments are received from government agencies.
To address these challenges, the collaboration combines financing solutions, capacity-building programs and ecosystem support to help businesses secure and successfully execute government contracts.
As one of the participating P2P financing platforms under the SARANA Program, microLEAP provides Shariah-compliant financing solutions to eligible government contractors and suppliers.
The scheme offers invoice financing, to support cash flow after project delivery, as well as financing for contract implementation, to help businesses meet upfront working capital requirements before project execution.
microLEAP Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Tunku Danny Nasaifuddin Mudzaffar, said the collaboration reflects a shared commitment to strengthening SME participation in government-led economic activities.
“Many SMEs have the capability to undertake government projects but face challenges accessing working capital at critical stages of project execution. Through this collaboration, we aim to bridge that gap by combining financing solutions, practical guidance and ecosystem support to help more businesses participate and grow,
“By bringing together financing, knowledge sharing and industry engagement, we hope to empower more Malaysian businesses to secure opportunities, execute projects successfully and contribute to the nation’s economic development,” he added.
Meanwhile, Commerce Access Sdn Bhd Chief Executive Officer Hajah Afidah Kamaruddin said the initiative would help strengthen SME readiness for government contracting opportunities.
“Commerce Access Sdn Bhd (CASB) is a Malaysian-based Business Process Outsourcing and Customer Experience provider, specializing in contact center operations, CX governance, and digital service delivery to help government and enterprise clients improve customer engagement and operational efficiency,” she said.