SME FORUM 2026: Future-Proofing Malaysian SMEs Through Smart, Practical Action 🚀

SME FORUM 2026: Future-Proofing Malaysian SMEs Through Smart, Practical Action

At SME Forum 2026, themed “Navigating Geoeconomic and Geopolitical Disruption: Future Proofing Malaysian SMEs,” industry leaders came together to discuss how Malaysian SMEs can stay resilient and competitive in a rapidly changing business environment.

The SME Toolkit — Smart Financing, Fast-Track Digitalisation, and ESG Compliance

The session focused on practical priorities for the next 6–18 months, including securing financing, investing in the right technology, adopting AI and digital tools, and preparing for evolving ESG and e-invoicing requirements.

Representing Persatuan ESG Malaysia (ESGAM), Adj. Prac. Prof. Cheah Kok Hoong, President of ESGAM, shared several key takeaways for SMEs:

Profit matters, but cash flow sustains the business. SMEs need to understand their business ecosystem and changing customer requirements, including ESG expectations.

Start with the right expertise. Engaging the right professionals can help SMEs identify priorities and prepare for what comes next.

Prepare early. Whether it is financing, digitalisation, AI or ESG, businesses that prepare today are better positioned for tomorrow’s opportunities.

AI should help, not replace. SMEs can leverage AI to improve productivity while equipping their workforce with new skills.

For Malaysian SMEs, future-proofing is not about doing everything at once. It is about taking the right steps, seeking the right expertise, and preparing early for what is coming next.

The session was moderated by Dr. Eddie Hu, Former Vice-Chair, Digital Economy Task Force, UN ESCAP Sustainable Business Network, with fellow panelists Mr. Effie Rizal bin Mustafa Kama, Advisory and Capacity Building Solutions, AI & Design-Thinking (AIDT) Lab, KSI Strategic Institute for Asia Pacific, and PMgr. Ts. Poo Ching Loong, General Manager, YesBoss Corporation.