PLUS channels 90% of procurement to drive Bumiputera vendor growth
Against the turbulent backdrop of a recovering post-Asian Financial Crisis economy, a determined Mohammad Zulkifli Ghapal set out in 1999 to prove that a homegrown engineering firm could deliver high-quality technical solutions, support local talent and drive national economic recovery.
Two decades later, his son, Mohd Zulhariz Mohammad Zulkifli stepped up to take the helm just before the Covid-19 pandemic upended the globe. Today, Mohd Zulhariz, 38, oversees a 90-strong specialised workforce at Semenyih-based D’Amante Malaysia Sdn Bhd.
With operations spanning Johor, Terengganu and across the country, the ISO 9001:2015 certified company is now a vital provider of reliable, cost-effective highway emergency communication systems.
The digital leap
Navigating a multi-generational shift from analog, founder-led operations to high-tech digital systems was an uphill climb. The turning point came in 2022 when D’Amante joined the PLUS Malaysia Bhd (PLUS) Bumiputera Vendor Development Programme (VDP).
The programme served as a catalyst in transforming the traditional contractor into a next-generation digital technology developer.
It also accelerated sector diversification, giving the firm the technical confidence to expand into railways, green energy and aerospace.
This was a major leap for an enterprise that had struggled with staff shortages and fierce competition from established players, Mohd Zulhariz recalls.
“We have strengthened our operational capabilities, expanded our technical expertise and enhanced our project management to undertake more complex ventures,” he says.
Backed by high-value grants, including Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Ministry’s (Kuskop) Vendor Research and Commercialisation Grant and Vendor Innovation and Commercialisation Grant, as well as a 2024 Next Generation Vehicle (NxGV) trade mission to China, D’Amante now boasts full-scale, in-house development and round-the-clock support.
Under the supervision of PLUS’ technology arm, TERAS Teknologi Sdn Bhd, the firm designs and supports its own toll fare indicators, variable message signs, emergency telephones and CCTV systems.
“Throughout this journey, we have remained committed to innovation and reliability while strictly meeting PLUS’ highest safety and environmental standards,” he says.
These advancements directly position the company to support national targets under both the 13th Malaysia Plan and the National Energy Transition Roadmap (NETR).
Furthermore, operating near local vocational institutions in Selangor, D’Amante actively recruits and upskills Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) graduates in emerging fields like artificial intelligence (AI) and cybersecurity.
This community-centric approach is anchored in a “multiplication effect” that directly aligns with the Ekonomi Madani framework.
“I learnt many new things through this PLUS VDP programme, from human capital development to data analytics. We also successfully raised our CIDB contractor grade from G4 to G7,” he added.
For aspiring Bumiputera entrepreneurs navigating today’s rapidly automated landscape, Mohd Zulhariz’s advice is: “Embrace continuous learning, remain resilient, never stop investing in your capabilities and create a positive economic and social impact for the wider community.”
He credits PLUS as the foundation for this growth, with its ecosystem that has enabled the firm to continuously strengthen its capabilities and contribute towards enhancing Malaysia’s infrastructure.
Adapting for success
Sharing Mohd Zulhariz’s sentiment, Focus Instrument (M) Sdn Bhd managing director Azizi Harun, 54, emphasises that building enduring enterprise value requires a foundational shift in mindset.
Noting that programmes like the PLUS VDP provide valuable opportunities to small businesses, Azizi says success ultimately depends on discipline, commitment, resilience and consistently delivering quality.
“Small businesses should always focus on building long-term capability rather than chasing short-term success. To achieve this, you must invest continuously in your people, technical knowledge, business governance and customer relationships.
“Be willing to embrace change, adopt new technologies and continuously improve business processes. Most importantly, build trust. Technology can evolve rapidly, but integrity, professionalism and reliability are what create lasting partnerships and sustainable business growth,” he says.
This long-term philosophy has anchored Focus Instrument since its inception in 2003.
Founded with the vision of building reliable, secure and future-ready ICT infrastructure, the company specialises in networking, cybersecurity, cloud solutions and managed ICT services.
Like D’Amante, Focus Instrument spent its early years battling to establish credibility against entrenched industry giants while managing tight resources.
The game-changer arrived in early 2022 when the firm began supporting PLUS with critical ICT projects, earning it a coveted spot in the PLUS VDP.
Selected for its technical capabilities, commitment to quality and potential for long-term growth, the firm gained access to valuable mentorship, business development initiatives and industry best practices.
Through the Malaysia Business Excellence Framework (MBEF and benchmarking visits, Azizi says it significantly strengthened its governance, operational processes, project management capabilities and overall business competitiveness.
“It gave us the confidence to undertake larger and more complex ventures while continuously delivering high value,” he notes.
This strategic support rapidly translated into measurable scale.
Over the past four years, Focus Instrument successfully secured and delivered 390 contracts across government agencies, government linked companies and private sector organisations.
This sustained performance drove a remarkable 30% compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) revenue growth and expanded the firm’s specialised workforce by 25%.
Additionally, a 2024 Market Access and Technology Transfer programme to China, jointly organised by MARii and Kuskop, gave Focus Instrument first-hand exposure to NxGV technologies and the fast-growing EV market.
“This experience has significantly broadened our perspective and better positioned us to support national targets under Malaysia’s NETR,” Azizi says.
Describing the firm as a proud Bumiputera-owned company, he says it leverages on this growth to foster a robust local ecosystem by actively upskilling its workforce through professional certifications and continuous learning.
It also collaborates closely with local technology partners and subcontractors to strengthen the domestic ICT landscape.
“Our growth has created a positive economic and social impact well beyond our organisation by generating high-value employment opportunities for Malaysian professionals, particularly Bumiputera engineers and technical personnel.
“We want to give back to the community, helping organisations improve their digital readiness while actively contributing to Malaysia’s broader digital transformation agenda,” he says.
The macro engine
In alignment with the Bumiputera Economic Transformation Plan 2035 (PuTERA35), UEM Group Bhd, through its subsidiary PLUS, actively accelerates the capabilities of Bumiputera small and medium-sized enterprises within its high-value supply chain.
True to this mission, PLUS awarded 90% of its procurement budgets to capable Bumiputera businesses over a three-year period from 2023 to 2025.
Elevating these vendors via its structured five-year VDP, which stems from Kuskop, remains its core purpose.
Utilising the Malaysia BEF, the PLUS VDP has supported 22 vendors since its 2021 inception, with nine graduated and 13 actively progressing across the civil, mechanical, electrical engineering, ICT and infrastructure services sectors.
All graduates achieved measurable revenue growth, while successfully expanding their market reach beyond the PLUS ecosystem.
UEM Group managing director Datuk Amran Hafiz Affifudin highlighted the VDP initiative as a crucial programme for upskilling Bumi vendors and ensuring long-term operational resilience.
“Strengthening vendor capabilities remains a key priority. We view these development initiatives as a continuous strategic tool to build a forward-ready network of Bumiputera contractors and technology partners.
“Investing in their capacity today expands our immediate supply chain while cultivating highly competitive local champions capable of driving Malaysia’s future infrastructure and, eventually, competing regionally.”
PLUS Malaysia Bhd managing director Datuk Nik Airina Nik Jaffar says the VDP is instrumental in expanding local SMEs’ customer bases and helping them evolve into specialised solution providers.
“Through the broader PLUS Bumiputera Vendor Empowerment Framework, we are nurturing a stronger pipeline of competitive and resilient Bumiputera enterprises that can contribute meaningfully to Malaysia’s infrastructure ecosystem and economic development.
“With this vision at the forefront, PLUS aims to expand the programme’s reach and double the number of participating vendors by 2028, further strengthening our contribution towards inclusive and sustainable economic growth,” she says.
