Summary
Weak inter-linkages between small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and large firms is a long-standing structural issue in Malaysia. While much emphasis has been given to addressing the issue, it is still strongly evident and does not seem to be removed from the economy, thus exposing SMEs to a greater economic threat amid the outbreak of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). However, opportunities for economic reform arise, particularly during the post-COVID-19 periods, offering businesses with opportunities to strengthen their inter-linkages with large firms. Therefore, this paper is structured to simulate the impacts of improving the inter-linkages as a measure of economic reform.
