PETALING JAYA, June 6 — The government is using a sound risk management approach by diversifying energy supply sources to ensure the country’s energy supply is sufficient, said Finance Minister II Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan.

He said the government, through Petroliam Nasional Bhd and oil companies, remains committed to seeking new supply sources, including from South Africa and the United States, to ensure the continuity of economic activities is not affected.

“This also means we have established new relationships. Some of the supply may come from further away and be slightly more expensive, but the important thing is that the domestic energy supply is sufficient.

“For coal, Malaysia continues to depend largely on Indonesia while expanding its supply sources to other countries, including the United States and Australia. This simultaneously reduces dependence on a single source and strengthens overall supply security,” he told reporters after attending the ‘Program Mikro Kredit Turun Padang’ here today.

He explained that the step was a good risk management measure because if there was any disruption in a supplier country, Malaysia would still have the option to increase supply from other sources.

The Ministry of Finance (MOF) stated today that the ‘Program Mikro Kredit Turun Padang’ is part of the Madani government’s ongoing efforts to strengthen the micro-entrepreneurship ecosystem.

According to the MOF, the programme provides a platform to engage with micro-entrepreneurs at the community level, understand the challenges they face, and disseminate information about various financing facilities, business assistance, and capacity development programmes provided by the government and related agencies.

“The programme is also capable of helping them increase their income, expand business operations, and build more sustainable and competitive businesses,” he said.

The implementing agencies involved in the programme are Bank Simpanan Nasional (BSN), Agrobank, Bank Kerjasama Rakyat Malaysia Bhd, Amanah Ikhtiar Malaysia (AIM), Companies Commission of Malaysia (SSM), TEKUN Nasional, Credit Counselling and Debt Management Agency (AKPK), and Majlis Amanah Rakyat. — Bernama