Last week Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim made an important social media post recognising the challenges of micro, small and medium-size enterprises (MSMEs).
I am a neighbour of the prime minister and like him I see the same nasi lemak seller who opens at 5am daily. Her stall is on Jalan Sungai Long, next to the Shell station, across the road from Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman.
Beyond the early hours, she also has to worry about the cost of ingredients, which is rising weekly.
From the workshop owner managing a growing diesel bill to the family business that has served its community for generations, there is a hard decision to make now: Should they stay open?
As the prime minister has noted, when global oil prices rise and costs increase,…