KUALA LUMPUR, July 9 -- The banking industry's higher profits in 2025 show that banks can afford to provide more support for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), said Lim Guan Eng, who renewed his call for interest-free loans and a temporary loan repayment relief measure for businesses.

The Bagan MP who is also DAP's national adviser said the banking sector's profit before tax increased by RM6.5 billion, or 13.5 per cent, to RM54.8 billion in 2025 from RM48.3 billion the previous year, arguing that the industry should play a bigger role in helping MSMEs facing rising costs and economic pressures.

He was responding to a written parliamentary reply by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim on July 6, which stated that cumulative ...