KOTA KINABALU: Small and medium enterprises (SME) in Sabah hope to see an extension of wage subsidies and better promotion of locally-produced goods to keep the economy afloat.

       SME Association of Sabah president Foo Ngee Kee said with the national recovery plan in place, these should be some of the areas looked at to help businesses.

       "We hope there will be an extension of the wage subsidy and an expedited disbursement of funds because last year, SMEs could still use their own money to pay workers while waiting for funds. But now, more than a year later, they face difficulty doing that," he said.

       Foo said the government could help by promoting the "buy local" campaign, so local producers can get sell their products faster to a wider spectrum of the market, which indirectly boosts economic growth as well.

       On issues such as the moratorium and deferred loan repayments, he hoped banks with better financial strength or those with lesser liquidity problems can consider allowing their SME customers some form of interest or loan rebates.

       "Financially-stronger banks can also consider allowing moratoriums and loan repayment discounts for targeted customers," Foo said.

       He said Bank Negara had done well by not putting a bad note on a customer's Central Credit Reference Information System (CCRIS) due to the delayed payments during this period.

       Foo said Sabah's Covid-19 cases are considerably lower than other parts of the country, and should be approached differently.

       He said Sabah should be able to control the spread of Covid-19 if they were firm and strict on SOPs as well as border control.

       He said economic activities would be able to continue if SOPs were strictly adhered to.