SME Malaysia backs Aidilfitri holiday decision, urges focus on bigger economic hurdles

SME Malaysia backs Aidilfitri holiday decision, urges focus on bigger economic hurdles

KUALA LUMPUR: The SME Association of Malaysia has expressed support for the government’s decision to provide an additional public holiday for Aidilfitri, while urging authorities and industry players to focus on more pressing economic challenges affecting small and medium enterprises (SMEs).

Its national president Dr Chin Chee Seong said the announcement by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim took into account the need to facilitate travel during the festive season, reduce congestion and ensure smoother Aidilfitri arrangements.

However, he stressed that the business community and the government must not become “overly preoccupied” with a single holiday when more pressing economic challenges loom.

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The association acknowledged that public holidays announced close to the date could affect manpower planning, production schedules, deliveries and business commitments, particularly for SMEs.

“The country and the SME community are facing challenges that go far beyond a single additional public holiday.

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“These include rising logistics costs, raw material price volatility, supply chain instability, and the wider uncertainty arising from ongoing tensions in the Middle East,” he said in a statement.

Chin said these “real challenges” directly affect the survival of SMEs and require immediate, coordinated attention from all sectors.

He urged government ministries and agencies to move beyond mere policy announcements and foster deeper collaboration with industry groups to address business “pain points” accurately.

“What is needed now is greater coordination across ministries and agencies. They must work closely with industry groups like SME Malaysia to understand the actual pressures faced by businesses in areas such as financing support, export facilitation, and cost mitigation”, he added.

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Chin said that only through genuine partnership and better-coordinated implementation can businesses sustain operations, preserve jobs, and strengthen market confidence amid global instability.