SMEs (including start up companies) play a vital role in Malaysia’s economic landscape. The ability to obtain and gain access to credit facilities from financial institutions in particular continue to be a great obstacle for SMEs for the much needed cash flow and funding in order to grow and sustain their business. Government Guarantee Schemes have been established since 2009 to assist in bridging the funding gap between SMEs and the financial institutions, by providing an alternative solution for SMEs that face lack of/ insufficient collateral to support their funding applications to the banks.Key Takeaways Overall benefits of utilising government guarantee schemes Types of government guarantee schemes and how they work Criteria and eligibility for the guarantee schemes List of participating Financial Institutions and how to apply for the schemes Frequently Asked Questions