KUALA LUMPUR, June 23 – PMB Tijari Berhad (PMB Tijari) aims to increase its short-term financing limit to 80 percent from the current 60 percent, in an effort to provide greater access to financing for new Bumiputera entrepreneurs.
Its Chief Executive Officer, Wan Sazriz Wan Zaid, said the initiative is part of PMB Tijari’s three-year strategic plan. Internally, the company has agreed to cap financing at RM5 million per entrepreneur, in line with its available capital.
However, he noted that the move will not be implemented abruptly, as some companies have contracts or purchase orders that extend beyond a year.
“These companies need time to grow and generate returns. We don’t want to deny such companies access to financing simply because of internal policies," he said.
He added that the collection of short-term financing repayments enables the company to recycle its capital for new entrepreneurs in need.
“Financing capital is like inventory — if there’s not enough, there’s no supply of new products,” he explained.
Wan Sazriz also shared that PMB Tijari is targeting an increase in total financing to RM300 million, up from RM200 million currently, with a goal to double that to RM600 million by 2022.
This expansion includes increasing the number of entrepreneurs benefitting from the financing to 400, compared to 100 currently.
“Since its establishment in 2014, PMB Tijari has financed around 100 entrepreneurs with a total of approximately RM200 million. We expect to provide RM80 million to RM100 million in new financing to 40 to 50 new entrepreneurs,” he said.
The expansion plan is based on current resources and capabilities, he added, noting that capital remains a key constraint in growing such a business model.
“But capital growth isn’t limited to loans alone. We aim to leverage synergies with stakeholders, including ministries, government agencies, government-linked companies (GLCs), and the private sector,” he said.
As for sector focus, Wan Sazriz said PMB Tijari does not limit financing to specific sectors. Most of its financing currently goes to companies in the information technology and logistics sectors.
Presently, PMB Tijari offers three main financing products: Ijarah, Murabahah, and Tawarruq.
“Product offerings depend on the needs of each company. Some of them are unable to secure loans from traditional financial institutions due to not meeting certain standards or being in early business stages,” he said.
“As a result, they turn to alternative financing from investors or venture capital firms. Our goal is to support these companies — those that have tenders, orders, or contracts, but lack strong financial backing to grow,” he concluded.
