This article examines the effect of Amanah Ikhtiar Malaysia's (AIM) microcredit programme on low-income households' income, poverty rate, and vulnerability in Peninsular Malaysia. This study employed a quasi-experimental approach, cross-sectional design, and stratified random sampling method. Findings indicated that participation in AIM's microcredit programme leads to an increase in household income and reduces both the poverty rate and level of economic vulnerability. AIM and policymakers, therefore, should focus on promoting a supportive environment to improve cooperation among participants by designing a dynamic and well-diversified microfinance programme and specialised skillsbuilding training programme.Cet article examine l'effet du programme de microcrédit d'Amanah Ikhtiar Malaysia (AIM) sur les revenus, le taux de pauvreté et la vulnérabilité des ménages à faibles revenus en Malaisie péninsulaire. Cette étude a eu recours à une approche quasi-expérimentale, à une conception transsectionnelle et à une méthode d'échantillonnage randomisé stratifié. D'après les conclusions, la participation au programme de microcrédit d'AIM aboutit à une hausse des revenus des ménages et à une réduction du taux de pauvreté ainsi que de la vulnérabilité économique. Par conséquent, AIM et les décideurs devraient se concentrer sur la promotion d'un environnement porteur pour améliorer la coopération entre les participants en concevant un programme de microfinancement dynamique et bien diversifié et un programme de formation en compétences spécialisées.El presente artículo examina los resultados que la aplicación de un programa de microcrédito, impulsado por Amanah Ikhtiar Malaysia (AIM) en la Malasia peninsular, tuvo en los hogares de bajos ingresos, en la tasa de pobreza y en la vulnerabilidad. El estudio utilizó un enfoque cuasi experimental, un diseño transversal y un método de muestreo aleatorio y estratificado. Los hallazgos resultantes indican que la participación en el programa de microcrédito de AIM produjo al mismo tiempo una elevación en el ingreso de los hogares y un descenso de la tasa de pobreza y del nivel de vulnerabilidad económica. Por ello se recomienda que tanto AIM como los formuladores de políticas centren su atención en fomentar un entorno que favorezca la cooperación entre los participantes mediante la instrumentación de un programa de microfinanzas dinámico y diversificado, así como de un programa de capacitación y fortalecimiento de habilidades.

This study attempted to assess the impact of Amanah Ikhtiar Malaysia’s (AIM) microcredit programme on the level of economic vulnerability among hard core poor household clients in Peninsular Malaysia. To attain the objective, this research utilized economic vulnerability index. This study employed a cross-sectional design and stratified random sampling methods. Findings showed that participation in AIM’s microcredit programme decreases the level of economic vulnerability. The study suggests that AIM should, therefore, emphasize on designing flexible and diversified financial products and delivery methods together with skill development training to improve the socio-economic condition of the hard core poor households in Malaysia.

The main goal of this study was to assess the impact of participation in Amanah Ikhtiar Malaysia’s (AIM) microcredit program on the empowerment among urban low-income women in Peninsular Malaysia. To attain the above mentioned objective, this study utilized a cross-sectional design using stratified random sampling method to examine whether or not participation in AIM’s microcredit program improved urban low-income clients’ role in household decision making, helped the clients achieve economic security, gain more control over resources and family decisions, improve their ability to go outside to work and improve their level of legal awareness. Findings of this study revealed that participation in AIM’s microcredit program generated a positive and significant impact on women’s empowerment in Urban Peninsular Malaysia. The results suggest that AIM should, therefore, focus on increasing the outreach by targeting urban low-income women. The policy makers should focus on establishing a supportive regulatory environment to promote sustainable development of all microcredit organizations in urban Malaysia.

Microenterprise often considered as an antecedent for generating income and employment, which leads to a decline in overall poverty rate and other aspects of sustainable socio-economic development. The objective of this study is to identify the impact of Amanah Ikhtiar Malaysia's (AIM) microcredit program on microenterprise assets owned by poor women in rural Peninsular Malaysia. In order to advance our understanding on the topic, contribute to the existing literature and to obtain the above mentioned objective, we employed a cross sectional design with stratified random sampling method. Data was collected from 281 rural clients selected from seven branches in five states in Peninsular Malaysia. Findings showed that the current market value of livestock's, agricultural/production equipments, agricultural stock/raw materials, enterprise assets and motor vehicles owned by old client respondents were relatively higher than that of new client respondents. Study also revealed that the mean market value of microenterprise assets owned by old clients is significantly higher than that of new clients. Therefore, there is a need to give emphasis on providing adequate training, favorable environment, and flexible and diversified loan programs in order to promote sustainable microenterprise development.

The objective of this paper is to examine the contribution made by tourism sector through deriving multipliers in terms of output, income, employment, value added, and import for the Malaysian economy using input-output techniques. Normal and ratio multipliers were measured to demonstrate the contribution made by tourism industry and its linkages with the other sectors of the economy. International tourist expenditure makes highest contribution in generating output since output multiplier is seven times higher than import multiplier. The lower value of import multiplier represents that the amount of leakage that occurs as a result of tourist expenditure is not significant. It is also evident from the results that secondary effect of tourist expenditure is found to be higher in generating output and value added. The lower value of secondary effect on income and employment suggests that tourism industry is relatively labour-intensive in nature. The multiplier analysis is found to be effective in appropriate policy making for the tourism industry. However, multiplier analysis of tourism industry of Malaysia possesses that this industry is contributing significantly to the economy and proves as a potential sector to enhance economic growth towards a developed nation by 2020.