Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has announced a one-year delay in the implementation of e-invoicing for certain micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) as part of measures to reduce cost pressures caused by the global energy crisis.
The government said businesses with annual sales between RM1 million and RM5 million will now be given until Dec 31, 2027, to implement e-invoicing. During the extended period, affected companies will be allowed to issue consolidated e-invoices and will not face penalties.
Anwar said the move is based on feedback received directly from MSMEs and is aimed at easing operational burdens while ensuring business continuity.
In addition, the government will allocate RM5 billion under Syarikat Jaminan Pembiayaan Perniagaan (SJPP) to provide financing guarantees of up to 80% for businesses impacted by rising costs. The guarantee period will be up to 10 years and will cover sectors such as construction, agriculture, agri-food, logistics, transportation and tourism.
The government is also considering import duty and sales tax exemptions until Dec 31 this year for reimported Malaysian goods that could not complete export processes due to disruptions linked to the Middle East conflict.
Anwar said the ongoing tensions in West Asia have created economic spillover effects, including supply disruptions, higher logistics and insurance costs, and continued pressure on business input prices.
He added that the government remains committed to taking swift action based on industry feedback and will continue working with financial institutions and businesses to protect jobs, support companies and strengthen resilience against prolonged global uncertainty.
