PETALING JAYA: The Securities Commission Malaysia (SC) showcased capital market financing options to micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and mid-tier companies (MTCs) in Sabah to support their expansion and growth.
The initiative was part of the one-day Kembara Borneo – Sabah roadshow, themed “Enterprise to Expansion”, held in Kota Kinabalu today.
In a statement, the SC said the initiative advances its Capital Market Masterplan 2026–2030 aspiration for a more inclusive and resilient capital market through a whole-of-nation approach.
“It also reinforces the SC’s Catalysing MSME and MTC Access to the Capital Market: 5-Year Roadmap to broaden access to market-based financing for MSMEs and MTCs.”
The SC noted that MSMEs contributed about 40% of Malaysia's gross domestic product (GDP) and close to 50% of total employment in 2025.
“This is particularly relevant in high-growth regional economies such as Sabah, where many businesses are expanding alongside the state's economic development and increasingly require access to capital to scale operations.
“Sabah was selected as the next location for the nationwide roadshow given the strength and growth potential of its key sectors, including agriculture, tourism and manufacturing.”
In 2025, the SC said agriculture contributed 13.9% of Sabah's GDP, while manufacturing grew 5% and attracted RM7.6bil in investments.
“Tourism was also a key driver for the services sector, which accounts for more than half of the state's economy.
“These sectors offer significant opportunities for Sabah's businesses to expand into higher-value activities, strengthen local supply chains and diversify into new markets.”
SC chairman Datuk Mohammad Faiz Azmi said the SC’s Capital Market Masterplan aspires to further democratise access to the Malaysian capital market and financing opportunities for businesses.
“We have seen this reflected through MyCIF2 , which has catalysed RM7.7bil in fundraising for more than 11,500 MSMEs since 2019 as well as NIMP CoSIF3, which has facilitated over RM243mil in public-private fundraising since its launch last year.
“These initiatives demonstrate how market-based financing can support businesses at different stages of growth,” he said.
Building on the success of MyCIF and CoSIF, the SC said a new strategic co-investment fund is planned for next year, in collaboration with the Ministry of Economy to support high-growth, high-value sectors under the Thirteenth Malaysia Plan.
“The initiative builds on the potential of co-investment funds as a policy tool to crowd-in private capital to expand access to financing for small enterprises and support national strategic needs.”
Mohammad Faiz said the roadshow is integral to the SC’s national outreach to raise awareness of such financing opportunities.
“Concurrently, it provides Sabah entrepreneurs practical insight into how alternative financing platforms and co-investment funds can fuel their growth.”
The roadshow series began in Penang in August 2026, connecting local semiconductor businesses and their supply chains with capital market funding opportunities through equity crowdfunding and peer-to-peer platforms.
The next roadshow will be held in Selangor by the end of the year.
“These engagements capitalise on NIMP CoSIF, a co-investment fund established through a collaboration between the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry and the SC.
“The fund supports SMEs and MTCs in high-impact and strategic manufacturing sectors by facilitating access to growth capital, enabling them to scale their operations and contribute to Malaysia's aspirations under the New Industrial Master Plan 2030 and the National Semiconductor Strategy,” said the SC.
