KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 9 — Bagan MP Lim Guan Eng has formally submitted a 12-point proposal to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim aimed at promoting economic prosperity and strengthening national unity ahead of Malaysia Day.

In a hand-delivered letter yesterday, the DAP adviser proposed RM25 billion in interest-free and collateral-free loans for 500,000 micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), alongside a one-year interest moratorium on their existing bank loans.

“The banking industry can afford to bear the cost of the interest moratorium on existing MSME loans for one year,” he said.

Lim estimated that financing the interest-free loans would cost RM1 billion annually at a 4 per cent interest rate, citing the banking industry’s RM54.8 billion profit before tax in 2025 — a 13.5 per cent increase from 2024.

He also proposed giving non-Bumiputera communities an amount equivalent to 10 per cent of government allocations for Bumiputeras without reducing existing Bumiputera funding.

“A special taxpayers’ tribunal should also be established for individuals and MSMEs, while individual tax relief should be increased by RM3,000 to RM12,000,” he said.

Lim also urged Putrajaya to immediately return 40 per cent of the net revenue derived from Sabah annually as a special grant and provide Sarawak with an equitable grant in accordance with the Federal Constitution.

He called for the autonomy safeguards contained in Sarawak’s 18-point agreement and Sabah’s 20-point agreement to be implemented to strengthen national integration with Peninsular Malaysia.

Other proposals included approving additional foreign workers, digitising their applications and visa approvals, and abolishing the mandatory 2 per cent Employees Provident Fund contribution for foreign workers.

Lim also called for a review of the expanded Sales and Service Tax, measures to encourage purchases of local goods and changes to SST imposed on raw materials used by the steel industry.

His final proposal was a standardised examination for admission to public universities to replace the separate STPM, foundation and matriculation assessments.