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Weathering the economic impact of COVID-19: challenges faced by microentrepreneurs and their coping strategies during Movement Control Order MCO in Malaysia


Citation

Megat Tajudin, Putri Noorafedah and Abd Rahim, Nur Aira and Idris, Khairuddin and Arshad, Mohd Mursyid (2021) Weathering the economic impact of COVID-19: challenges faced by microentrepreneurs and their coping strategies during Movement Control Order MCO in Malaysia. Pertanika Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities, 29 (s1.). pp. 271-290. ISSN 0128-7702; eISSN: 2231-8534

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic is a global crisis that has caused a punishing economic impact on businesses, particularly due to many countries adopting measures such as the Movement Control Order (MCO) to curb the spread of the COVID-19 disease. The impact hits the most on microentrepreneurs since they are not able to operate their businesses, of which the margins of profit and resources are relatively small. The purpose of this research was to explore the challenges faced by microentrepreneurs during MCO and their coping strategies used to overcome these challenges. This study utilized the qualitative case study approach and collected interview data among the identified microentrepreneurs that met the criterion sampling. The findings uncover that these microentrepreneurs typically faced challenges related to restricted cash flows, lack of customers and supplies shortage issues which impacted their income and business operations during MCO. These challenges were addressed using coping strategies, namely having the ability to control stress, developing a strong spiritual relationship with God, applying problem solving thinking skills, utilizing social capital (offline and online), and optimizing digital marketing. It is recommended that government agencies, NGOs, and social movement bodies contribute to microentrepreneurs by organising and engaging in digital empowerment programs to enable rural entrepreneurs to leverage on their access to digital commerce, internet marketing and alike.


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Additional Metadata

Item Type: Article
Divisions: Faculty of Educational Studies
Institute for Social Science Studies
DOI Number: https://doi.org/10.47836/PJSSH.29.S1.15
Publisher: Universiti Putra Malaysia
Keywords: COVID-19 coping strategies; Microentrepreneurs; Sustainable empowerment; SMEs
Depositing User: Mohamad Jefri Mohamed Fauzi
Date Deposited: 03 Jul 2025 08:01
Last Modified: 03 Jul 2025 08:01
Altmetrics: http://www.altmetric.com/details.php?domain=psasir.upm.edu.my&doi=10.47836/PJSSH.29.S1.15
URI: http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/93575
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