Consider This: SMEs — Small Banks’ Role in Capital Accessibility
The Asian Financial Crisis of the late 1990s prompted Malaysia to implement a series of reforms aimed at fortifying its financial institutions. One of the most prominent measures taken was the consolidation of the banking sector, leading to a reduction in the number of domestic commercial banks from 22 to just 10 by the year 2002. While the goal was to create stability and strength within the financial industry, it introduced a new set of challenges, particularly for the country's SMEs. The pivotal question that arises is: After more than 2 decades, how has this banking consolidation impacted the ability of SMEs in Malaysia to secure capital? On this episode of #ConsiderThis Melisa Idris speaks to Professor Woo Wing Thye, Vice-President for Asia at the United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network. He also heads the ASIA headquarters of SDSN, hosted by the Jeffrey Cheah Foundation at Sunway University, where he is a research professor.
Tue Oct 17 2023
![Argentina's World Cup victory - Simply a momentary joy Argentina's World Cup victory - Simply a momentary joy](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2022-12/41671402327_LionelMessi.jpg)
Argentina's World Cup victory - Simply a momentary joy
The difficult economic situation in Argentina contributed to a new era where the military actively intervened in its administration.
Sun Dec 25 2022
![Malaysia not heading towards any economic crisis, says Tengku Zafrul Malaysia not heading towards any economic crisis, says Tengku Zafrul](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2021-11/81637749291_TBZAFRULjpg.jpg)
Malaysia not heading towards any economic crisis, says Tengku Zafrul
The Finance Ministry has stressed that Malaysia is neither facing nor heading towards any economic or financial crisis.
Tue Oct 04 2022
![Sri Lanka rushes to find fuel as shortages hit schools, workers Sri Lanka rushes to find fuel as shortages hit schools, workers](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2022-06/61656475313_COLOMBO.jpg)
Sri Lanka rushes to find fuel as shortages hit schools, workers
A financial crisis that has left currency reserves perilously low, making imports of essential goods including food, increasingly difficult.
Wed Jun 29 2022
![Sri Lanka left with fuel stocks for around five days, minister says Sri Lanka left with fuel stocks for around five days, minister says](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2022-06/51655441576_SriLanka.jpg)
Sri Lanka left with fuel stocks for around five days, minister says
The country of 22 million people is caught in its worst financial crisis in seven decades after its foreign exchange reserves dwindled.
Fri Jun 17 2022
![Indonesia takes over land controlled by Suharto son's firm Indonesia takes over land controlled by Suharto son's firm](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2021-11/81636094240_JAKARTA.jpg)
Indonesia takes over land controlled by Suharto son's firm
The move was part of wider efforts to recoup $7.7 billion of unpaid loans given as bank bailouts during the 1997-1998 financial crisis.
Fri Nov 05 2021
![Reconfiguring FDI under the new administration Reconfiguring FDI under the new administration](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2021-09/71630572919_MALAYSIA.jpg)
Reconfiguring FDI under the new administration
This means that one of the critical tasks facing the new administration is to revive and increase FDI inflows.
Thu Sep 02 2021
![School's out for good? Lebanese teachers flee as financial crisis builds School's out for good? Lebanese teachers flee as financial crisis builds](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2021-07/71625734573_BEIRUT.jpg)
School's out for good? Lebanese teachers flee as financial crisis builds
Lebanon's educational sector was once ranked tenth globally by WEF's Global Competitiveness Report.
Thu Jul 08 2021
![Malaysia's central bank keeps key rate steady as virus cases surge Malaysia's central bank keeps key rate steady as virus cases surge](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2021-03/51614612496_BankNegaraMalaysia.jpg)
Malaysia's central bank keeps key rate steady as virus cases surge
BNM expects the economy to rebound by 6 pct to 7.5 pct this year, on improving export demand and a pick up in investment and production.
Thu May 06 2021
![For GameStop day traders, the moment they've dreamed about For GameStop day traders, the moment they've dreamed about](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2021-01/71612057362_GameStop.jpg)
For GameStop day traders, the moment they've dreamed about
They've endured a financial crisis. Two deep recessions. Mounds of student debt. Stagnant pay. Costly health care. Dim job prospects.
Sun Jan 31 2021
![Year-end ode: 4IR is the post-COVID-19 hero Year-end ode: 4IR is the post-COVID-19 hero](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2020-12/81609386504_Generic.jpg)
Year-end ode: 4IR is the post-COVID-19 hero
Anyone paying attention knows that Neo Liberalism has only resulted in the super rich getting even richer. It didnt take Covid19 to realize this; 2008s Global Financial Crisis showed us this.
Thu Dec 31 2020
![APEC to ensure smooth cross-border movement of essential goods - Muhyiddin APEC to ensure smooth cross-border movement of essential goods - Muhyiddin](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2020-11/51605918322_APEC.jpg)
APEC to ensure smooth cross-border movement of essential goods - Muhyiddin
APEC's immediate priority is to ensure readiness of health and medical care institutions to provide critical treatment as well as to manage public health policies to contain the spread of COVID-19.
Sat Nov 21 2020
![Fiscal deficit reduction - is there a magic number? Fiscal deficit reduction - is there a magic number?](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2020-11/51604372053_fiscaldeficit.jpg)
Fiscal deficit reduction - is there a magic number?
Fiscal consolidation will be very difficult to achieve if a bleak and gloomy economic outlook is to be on-going and persist.
Tue Nov 03 2020
![Coronavirus jolts Malaysia's economy into first contraction since global financial crisis Coronavirus jolts Malaysia's economy into first contraction since global financial crisis](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2020-08/41597390785_KualaLumpur.jpg)
Coronavirus jolts Malaysia's economy into first contraction since global financial crisis
Malaysia's worst economic slump since the Asian financial crisis in 1998, a sharp decline from the 0.7% growth of the first quarter.
Fri Aug 14 2020
![Proposed economy recovery plan needs to aid micro, small businesses Proposed economy recovery plan needs to aid micro, small businesses](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2020-06/61591320250_ZAKARIAHABDULRASHI.jpg)
Proposed economy recovery plan needs to aid micro, small businesses
SMEs accounted for 70 per cent of the country's 98.5 per cent of small and medium enterprises, and they were mainly involved in the services sector.
Fri Jun 05 2020