MCA (Malaysian/Chinese Association) President Datuk Seri Ong Ka Ting Tuesday urged the party members to play a greater role in boosting small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the country.
Categorising SMEs under two groups, Ong said each group needed a different framework and approach to tackle its challenges.
"It is necessary to recognise that in Malaysia there are two distinct groups of SMEs. The first are the traditional SMEs, or the `Old Timers', who form the majority of SMEs in Malaysia.
"The second group of SMEs is led by IT (Information Technology) and technology savvy, well educated entrepreneurs, or the `Young Generation'," he said in his opening speech at the Economic Seminar on Transforming SMEs: Staying Competitive in the New Economy.
Recognising the unique characteristics of traditional SMEs, Ong said MCA could act as a facilitator to explore the challenges faced by them.
