Journal Screenshot

International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences

Open Access Journal

ISSN: 2222-6990

COVID-19 and Movement Control Order (MCO) in Malaysia: Access to Financial and Social Capital for Microenterprise Sustainability

Naimah Zaini, Nor Asyiqin Salleh, Maizura Meor Zawawi, Hafidzah Hashim

http://dx.doi.org/10.6007/IJARBSS/v11-i12/11238

Open access

Micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) have always been recognized as a major contributors to the Malaysian economy. The global COVID-19 outbreak has severely affected the economic landscape of Malaysia and impacted the microentrepreneurs because they mainly do not have enough financial resources to support their business. However, as the COVID-19 cases keep increasing, the third MCO (MCO 3.0) has been imposed and this situation continues to disrupt the business activities of microentrepreneurs. Despite the stimulus packages provided by the government to cushion the impact on businesses, different microentrepreneurs have different experiences and capabilities to mitigate the negative impact of COVID-19. The purpose of this study is to understand the challenges faced by microentrepreneurs during MCO 3.0 and to investigate to what extent their access to resources influences their business strategy. This study employed a qualitative approach and collected data using phone interviews with five selected microentrepreneurs in Perak. The findings of this study depicted the main challenges surrounding these microentrepreneurs are a lack of financial resources and supply chain issues. This study also found the access to financial capital and social capital influence microentrepreneurs to undertake business strategies that can ensure their businesses sustain during the pandemic crisis.

Adler, P. S., & Kwon, S. W. (2002). Social capital: Prospects for a new concept. Academy of management review, 27(1), 17-40.
Ayman, F. M. (2020). Malaysia’s PENJANA Stimulus Package: Key Features. ASEAN Briefing. https://www.aseanbriefing.com/news/malaysias-penjana-stimulus-package-key-features/
Ayman, F. M. (2021). Malaysia Introduces Pemerkasa Plus Economic Stimulus Package. ASEAN Briefing. https://www.aseanbriefing.com/news/malaysia-introduces-pemerkasa-plus-economic-stimulus-package/
Ayman, F. M. (2021b). Malaysia’s Pemulih Stimulus Package: Supporting Businesses and Individuals. ASEAN Briefing. https://www.aseanbriefing.com/news/malaysias-pemulih-stimulus-package-supporting-businesses-and-individuals/
Barney, J. (1991). Firm resources and sustained competitive advantage. Journal of Management, 17(1), 99-120.
Chandler, G. N., & Hanks, S. H. (1998). An examination of the substitutability of founders human and financial capital in emerging business ventures. Journal of business venturing, 13(5), 353-369.
Baluku, M. M., Kikooma, J. F., Bantu, E., & Otto, K. (2018). Psychological capital and entrepreneurial outcomes?: the moderating role of social competencies of owners of micro-enterprises in East Africa.
Bose, B. (2013). Financing of Micro, medium, and small scale enterprises in India Key Challenges. IOSR Journal of Economics and Finance, 1(1 (May. – Jun. 2013)), 1–4.
Chandler, G. N., & Hanks, S. H. (1998). An examination of the substitutability of founders human and financial capital in emerging business ventures. Journal of business
Che Omar, A. R., Ishak, S., & Jusoh, M. A. (2020). The impact of Covid-19 Movement Control Order on SMEs’ businesses and survival strategies. Malaysian Journal of Society and Space, 16(2), 139–150. https://doi.org/10.17576/geo-2020-1602-11
Fabeil, N. F., Pazim, K. H., & Langgat, J. (2020). The Impact of Covid-19 Pandemic Crisis on Micro-Enterprises: Entrepreneurs’ Perspective on Business Continuity and Recovery Strategy. Journal of Economics and Business, 3(2).
https://doi.org/10.31014/aior.1992.03.02.241
Hamdan, N. H. B., Kassim, S. B. H., & Lai, P. C. (2021). the Covid-19 Pandemic Crisis on Micro-Entrepreneurs in Malaysia: Impact and Mitigation Approaches. Journal of Global Business and Social Entrepreneurship (GBSE), 7(20), 52–64. Retrieved from www.gbse.com.my
Harun, R., Sabri, M. S., & Ahmad, S. (2021). The Influence Of Social Media On Social Capital?: Development Of The Influence Of Social Media On Social Capital?: Development Of Small Business Growth. Proceeding of 2nd International Conference on Multi-Disciplinary Research, (January), 185–196.
Hitt, M. A., Ireland, R. D., Camp, S. M., & Sexton, D. L. (2002). Strategic entrepreneurship: Integrating entrepreneurial and strategic management perspectives. Strategic entrepreneurship: Creating a new mindset, 1, 16.
Khaw, N. (2019) The Edge Malaysia Weekly, September 2, 2019 - September 08, 2019.
Klyver, K., & Schenkel, M. T. (2013). From resource access to use: Exploring the impact of resource combinations on nascent entrepreneurship. Journal of Small Business Management, 51(4), 539-556.
Lacina, L., & Vav?ina, J. (2013). The Impact Of Financial And Economic Crisis On SME’s in Greece And Ireland. Acta Universitatis Agriculturae Et Silviculturae Mendelianae Brunensis, 61(4), 1005–1016. https://doi.org/10.11118/actaun201361041005
Larson, D. W., & Shaw, T. K. (2001). Issues of microenterprise and agricultural growth: do opportunities exist through forward and backward linkages?. Journal of Developmental Entrepreneurship, 6(3), 203-220.
Liao, J. J., Welsch, H., & Moutray, C. (2008). Start-up resources and entrepreneurial discontinuance: The case of nascent entrepreneurs. Journal of Small Business Strategy, 19(2), 1-16.
Lo Iacono, V., Symonds, P., & Brown, D. H. (2016). Skype as a tool for qualitative research interviews. Sociological research online, 21(2), 103-117.
Marshall, D. R., Meek, W. R., Swab, R. G., & Markin, E. (2020). Access to resources and entrepreneurial well-being: A self-efficacy approach. Journal of Business Research, 120(August), 203–212. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2020.08.015
Mittal, V., & Raman, T. V. (2021). Examining the determinants and consequences of financial constraints faced by Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises ’ owners. (2006). https://doi.org/10.1108/WJEMSD-07-2020-0089
Radzi, M. N. A., Lee, K. E., Hashim, H., Ali, M. A. F., Saidi, N. A., & Hasbollah, H. R. (2020). Charity Sees The Need, Not The Cause?: The Strategic Csr During The Pandemic Outbreak. Palarch’s Journal of Archaeology of Egypt/Egyptology, 17(4), 485–498.
Mustapa, A. N., & Mohamad, A. (2021). Malaysian Government Business Support and Assistance for Small and Medium Enterprises: A Case of COVID-19 Pandemic Crisis. In Modeling Economic Growth in Contemporary Malaysia. Emerald Publishing Limited.
Sabli, H. M., Latiff, H. A., & Wahi, M. F. B. (2018). Review On Factors Affecting Micro Entrepreneur Performance In Malaysia: A Conceptual Model. International Journal of Academic Research in Progressive Education & Development, 7(3).
Singh, P., & Kaur, C. (2019). Factors determining financial constraint of SMEs?: a study of unorganized manufacturing enterprises in India Factors determining financial constraint of SMEs?: a study of unorganized manufacturing enterprises in India. Journal of Small Business & Entrepreneurship, 0(0), 1–19.
https://doi.org/10.1080/08276331.2019.1641662
Tajudin, P. N. M., Rahim, N. A. A., Idris, K., & Arshad, M. M. (2021). Weathering the economic impact of COVID-19: Challenges faced by microentrepreneurs and their coping strategies during movement control order (MCO) in Malaysia. Pertanika Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities, 29, 271–290. https://doi.org/10.47836/pjssh.29.s1.15
Mustapa, W. N., Al Mamun, A., & Ibrahim, M. D. (2018). Development Initiatives, Micro-Enterprise Performance, and Sustainability. International Journal of Financial Studies, 6(74), 1–15. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijfs6030074

In-Text Citation: (Zaini et al., 2021)
To Cite this Article: Zaini, N., Salleh, N. A., Zawawi, M. M., & Hashim, H. (2021). COVID-19 and Movement Control Order (MCO) in Malaysia: Access to Financial and Social Capital for Microenterprise Sustainability. International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, 11(12), 1337–1348.