SWATANTRA
Vol. 23 No. 1 (2025)

Implementing Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise Policy in Malaysia: Institutional Coordination, Strategic Empowerment, and Regulatory Oversight

Annisa Zahrah (Universitas Muhammadiyah Jakarta)
Khelinban Sankar (Universiti Utara Malaysia)



Article Info

Publish Date
21 Jul 2026

Abstract

Micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) occupy a strategic position in Malaysia’s development trajectory because they contribute substantially to national output, employment creation, entrepreneurial inclusion, and regional economic resilience. Nevertheless, the contribution of MSMEs does not emerge automatically; it depends on the quality of policy implementation, the effectiveness of institutional coordination, the capacity of target groups, and the adaptability of public programmes to changing economic conditions. This article examines the implementation of MSME development policy in Malaysia by focusing on the regulatory architecture, inter-agency coordination, empowerment strategies, access to finance, digital transformation, and partnership oversight. The study uses a qualitative documentary research design based on policy documents, official statistical reports, academic literature, and relevant secondary sources. The analysis is informed by public policy implementation theory, particularly the interaction between idealised policy, target groups, implementing organisations, and environmental factors. The findings show that Malaysia has developed a relatively comprehensive MSME policy ecosystem through institutions such as the National Entrepreneur and SME Development Council, SME Corporation Malaysia, SME Bank, and other ministries and agencies. Policy implementation is supported by long-term national plans, entrepreneurship strategies, capacity-building programmes, financing schemes, digitalisation initiatives, and competition-law enforcement. However, implementation challenges remain, especially in bureaucratic fragmentation, uneven access to financing, digital capability gaps, limited managerial capacity among micro-enterprises, and the difficulty of integrating informal or low-productivity enterprises into higher-value markets. The article argues that Malaysia’s MSME policy implementation is best understood as an evolving governance system rather than a single programme.

Copyrights © 2025






Journal Info

Abbrev

SWATANTRA

Publisher

Subject

Social Sciences

Description

SWATANTRA: is a peer-reviewed journal published by undergraduate as well as magister program of Administration Studies Department of Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, Universitas Muhammadiyah Jakarta. This national journal aims to disseminate Administration science research in various ...