Tasnuba Haque,

Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), Malaysia. 

E-mail: tasnubaistt@yahoo.com

Contributions

of Amanah Ikhtiar Malaysia (AIM) microfinance to Economic Empowerment

(EE) of women borrowers in Malaysia

Chamhuri Siwar,

Universiti Kebangsaan  Malaysia (UKM), Malaysia 

E-mail: csiwar@ukm.my

Abul Bashar Bhuiyan,

University Selangor (Unisel),

Shah Alam, Malaysia

E-mail: bashariuk@gmail.com

Mohd Hasanur Raihan Joarder,

United International University (UIU)

E-mail: raihan.joarder@bus.uiu.ac.bd

Abstract. The main aim of the study is to investigate the impact of AIM micro-crediting on the on the Economic empowerment (EE) of the borrowers at the East Coast Region in Malaysia. The study used both the quantitative and qualitative approach based on primary data from the field. There are 384 samples of AIM’s borrowers were collected from the Terengganu, Kelantan, and Pahang in East Coast Economic Region (ECER), Malaysia. The present study has used descriptive statistical and women empowerment index. The women empowerment index (the Economic Empowerment Index) employed to measure the level development of the status of women in economical decision-making contexts. The study summarized that AIM’s credit has contributed towards the ‘improvement of empowerment of women in all categories of Economic issues. The present study recommends policy considerations for the successful and effective operation of microfinance programs through the increase of proper income generating activities, sufficient amount of access to credit, create self-employment opportunity in Malaysia.

Received: January, 2019

1st Revision: April, 2019

Accepted: December, 2019

DOI: 10.14254/2071-789X.2019/12-4/15

JEL Classification: D02, O17, P31

Keywords: Microfinance, Microcredit, Economic Empowerment (EE), Amanah Ikhtiar Malaysia (AIM), Malaysia