The clock says that it’s 6:00 p.m. – two hours before the mandated closing time for his restaurants for the past few months. These days restaurants are no longer buzzing with family and friends dining together, laughing and exchanging stories over hot steaming meals freshly prepared in the kitchen. Half the tables and chairs are piled up in the corner of the restaurant, unoccupied and lonely. Packed food is placed on the counter, to be picked up by delivery riders who will deliver the food to his customers waiting patiently in the comfort of their homes.
Mr Tan stared into the distance, thinking about what the future holds for his restaurants and his two children who will spearhead the family business once he hands over the reins. He misses the old days but deep down inside, he knows that in order for his family business to survive, he must be resilient, innovative and above all, ensure that the business stays relevant beyond this pandemic.
What needs to be done?
Storm clouds or silver lining?
Questions such as “Is it safe to open my shop today?” and “How long can I keep my business afloat?” echo in the mind of many business owners alike. The extraordinary behavioral changes of consumers and the extreme unpredictability caused by the COVID-19 pandemic have forced business owners to relook, reassess and ultimately reinvent themselves.
Small and Medium Enterprises (“SMEs”) are the backbone of the Malaysian economy. SMEs contribute almost 40% of the country’s GDP and provide employment to two-thirds of the Malaysian workforce. SMEs are also the group that is most severely affected by the pandemic. Last year, the gross domestic product (GDP) of SMEs contracted 7.3% to RM512.8b, in comparison to the national GDP decline of 5.6%.
Despite the seemingly never-ending curve balls, businesses are hoping for a turnaround in 2022. The Pre-Budget Statement issued by the Ministry of Finance (MoF) on 31 August 2021 provides hope that 2022 will indeed be a better year with bold measures to stimulate investments, support the adoption of digitalization, create new job opportunities and encourage consumption to help spur the economy.
Digitalizing the business
Studies show that adaptation to online purchasing by consumers has increased tremendously during the pandemic. However, the adoption of digital solutions and automation by SMEs is still lagging behind compared to larger organizations, as reported by Bank Negara Malaysia.
Therefore, SMEs need to re-evaluate their business models to keep up with digital transformation trends. Automation will help SMEs to improve their supply chain diversity and resilience, enhance customer experience, widen market outreach and speed up deliveries. In fact, digitalization is not an option, it is an imperative. In a world where customers expect flashy websites where they can find all the information they need about a product, have all their questions answered and where they can place orders and make payments with the click of a button, businesses which do not digitalize will find it extremely challenging to survive, let alone thrive.
However, digitalization comes at a cost. The Government must continue to incentivize SMEs to automate their operations, production and trade channels through the provision of digital grants, digital training support and tax incentives.
Empowering human capital
One of the ways in which SMEs have been impacted by the pandemic is the ability to retain employees. Although this challenge was alleviated by the wage subsidy program rolled out under the Pemulih stimulus package, in which the eligibility conditions were gradually relaxed, the extension and expansion of similar programs would be welcomed by the SMEs.
On a positive note, businesses are upskilling and reskilling their talent pool, rehiring retrenched employees, especially those in the B50 group and embracing digitalization. Manpower efficiency and the use of technology will increase productivity through enabling a strong focus on value-adding activities and reducing the country’s reliance on lower skilled foreign workers.
Training grants, allowances for industry-specific training courses, additional tax deductions on the costs incurred to upskill and reskill employees, and the provision of further deductions on the cost of rehiring of retrenched and financially distressed persons from the B50 group will help to support businesses. A monitoring system should be set up to ensure that the intended objectives of the Government support are achieved, without abuse or leakage in implementation.
Creating a safe environment
As Malaysia prepares to transition to a COVID-19 endemic phase, protecting staff and customers requires business owners to embrace more stringent health and safety protocols. Having clear protocols in place and diligently implemented must become an immediate priority to deal with present and upcoming challenges.
Preventive measures such as COVID-19 screenings for employees, the purchase of protective equipment, the sanitization of business premises and the observance of physical distancing are amongst the steps taken by businesses to support the country in controlling the pandemic.
Further initiatives and assistance such as the granting of special leave for employee vaccinations and quarantines where relevant, and the subsidy of employee vaccination costs and other COVID-19 related bills should be adopted by SME businesses, to create a safe and supportive working environment. Consequently, the double tax deduction announced recently by the Government should not be limited to only COVID-19 employees detection tests but should cater to a more holistic pool of costs.
Family businesses are here to stay
Staying relevant in an ever-changing business environment is vital for a sustainable and resilient family business. As the objectives of Budget 2022 are aimed to protect and drive the recovery of the lives and livelihood of Malaysians, rebuild the economy’s resilience, and catalyze socio-economic reforms, SMEs are looking forward to a more inclusive Budget to be announced. Together, let us pave the way for future generations.
