KUALA LUMPUR, May 7 — Despite the availability of RM50 million in digital matching grants and support from global tech giants like Microsoft and Alibaba Cloud, most Malaysian small and medium enterprises (SMEs) still lag behind in adopting digital technologies, said Digital Minister Gobind Singh Deo. Speaking at the CTOS SME Biz Day 2025, he emphasised that SMEs remain far behind larger enterprises in their digital transformation journey.
Gobind noted that the ministry, through initiatives like the Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation’s (MDEC) Business Digitalisation Initiative (BDI), is working to accelerate digital adoption among SMEs. He stressed the government’s commitment to equipping SMEs with tools, knowledge, and financial resources, including digital vendor grants and strategic partnerships with tech firms, to bridge the digital divide.
Reaffirming the government’s broader support for SMEs, Gobind referenced Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s recent announcement of an additional RM1 billion under the Business Financing Guarantee Scheme to help SMEs impacted by US tariffs. Another RM50 million has also been earmarked for MATRADE to assist SMEs in exploring international markets and boosting export potential through trade expos and business matching programmes.
