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COVID-19: Impact on Malaysian businesses
What do companies need?
1. Financial relief is paramount, as businesses both large and small take steps to maintain cashflow and operations.
2. Recurring “needs” themes among businesses include the following:
- Loan relief
- Tax reductions
- Grant assistance, particularly to manage costs for technology enhancements and upgrades
3. Additional measures include:
- Accepting digital documents for import clearances
- Clear guidelines on the opening and expansion of e-banking infrastructure
- Online training programs
4. Return to normalcy, including the removal of MCO restrictions, is key to achieving a quick recovery and restoring business confidence and growth.
Intervention areas
1. Relief from obligations
Financial relief is a top priority and includes loans, rent and taxes.
2. Technology solutions
Need for better connectivity, with tools to enable new ways of working
3. Business transformation
Assistance in adapting to new operations and processes
4. Certainty in the new normal
Clarity about the new normal and the ensuing expectations
COVID-19 business impact: Financial
Top challenges: Financial issues include cashflow, liquidity, delays in receivables and declines in revenue.
Actions being taken: Nearly half of all companies surveyed indicated that cost-cutting measures are a priority. Others include cashflow management, re-prioritizing of business activities and investments and adjusting wages or applying for wage subsidies.
Intervention needed: Initiatives which reduce financial burdens or provide relief to loans and obligations are a priority.
COVID-19 business impact: Customer
Top challenges: Across large and SME companies, nearly half of the respondents have cited that a fall in demand is their key challenge.
Actions being taken: Half of the respondents noted that frequent communication with customers is key to planning and managing customer relationships.
Intervention needed: Over a quarter (26%) of large companies cited changes in Government policies as the most important assistance required, which include tax breaks, lower interest rates or fee waivers. For SMEs, relaxing MCO restrictions is key.
COVID-19 business impact: Technology
Top challenges: Nearly a third of large and listed companies cited communication with customers and suppliers as a major challenge, while SMEs highlighted WFH connectivity as a key issue.
Actions being taken: Companies are upgrading their technology and systems, and ensuring employees can connect.
Intervention needed: Improved connectivity is the priority need of businesses, followed by financial support in transitioning to technology-enabled processes and systems.
COVID-19 business impact: Supply chain
Top challenges: Large and listed companies cited delays in receiving supplies as the main supply chain challenge, while SMEs noted delays in fulfillment and delivery as their major challenge.
Actions being taken: Most large and listed companies are engaged in keeping suppliers informed through dialogue sessions on supply chain issues. For SMEs, payments and orders have been deferred whilst requesting for discounts from suppliers.
Intervention needed: Most companies are requesting for the waiver of cross-border and service taxes, along with additional credit facilities with banks.
COVID-19 business impact: People
Top challenges: 32% of all large and listed companies have faced downtime in their daily operations, while 31% of SMEs have experienced delays in completing tasks and projects.
Actions being taken: Close to a third of all companies are enhancing their remote working approaches with technical and connectivity support. Large and listed companies are also placing heavy emphasis on staying connected with employees.
Intervention needed: 38% of SMEs have prioritized applications for wage subsidies, while large and listed companies have placed equal importance on staff upskilling, wage subsidies and support with internet connectivity and working tools.
