Ng (sixth right) is seen with Samenta’s new national council members.
KUCHING (June 29): Datuk William Ng, who has been re-elected Small and Medium Enterprises Association of Malaysia (Samenta) president, has introduced a progressive blueprint aimed at shifting Malaysian SMEs from operational survival to aggressive, technology-driven global scaling.
He said Samenta had outlined four progressive priority pillars for the next three years, namely accelerated AI (Artificial Intelligence) integration and digitalisation, aggressive policy advocacy and structural reform, ‘Made by Malaysia’ transition, as well as adoption of ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) and circularity.
“We are moving beyond basic digital presence to embed deep-tech capabilities and automated workflows into traditional SME operations as well as lobbying for a level playing field for SMEs, a streamlined, transparent foreign labour framework, and simplified bureaucratic processes at local government levels.
“We are also driving SMEs to transition from OEMs (Original Equipment Manufacturers) to intellectual property (IP) owners, allowing them to compete globally rather than engaging in low-margin domestic price wars.
“In addition, we are also assisting SMEs to navigate ESG and circular economy adoption to strengthen their supply chain presence,” he said in a statement following the association’s annual general meeting.
To directly operationalise these goals, Ng said Samenta will rapidly scale up its highly targeted ground programmes.
“We intend to double down on our current initiatives, including the ongoing 50 Hyperlocal AI Fest, Asean’s first Circular Economy Certification, RetailTech+, and our Digitalisation Grader tool to tangibly elevate our SMEs.
“Our ultimate goal is to actively groom the next generation of industry leaders while ensuring that efficient, digitalised bureaucracy becomes a reality for businesses on the ground,” he said.
He added that Samenta will remain a formidable force in shaping national economic policies that protect and empower the ultimate backbone of the Malaysian economy.
According to him, the freshly-minted Samenta leadership combines seasoned industry advocates with deep sector specialists across digital tech, finance, and manufacturing, reflecting the increasingly complex economic landscape local businesses face in 2026.
“Malaysian SMEs are at a critical turning point. Between structural policy shifts like fiscal reforms, labour market transformation, regional supply chain recalibrations, and the sheer velocity of AI adoption, the traditional way of doing business is fast becoming obsolete.
“We are not here to maintain the status quo; we are a strategic partner to both the government and our 1.1 million micro, small and medium enterprises to drive deep, structural transformation,” added Ng.
Also on the national council are deputy president Edwin Ng; secretary general Timothy Liew; vice presidents Calvin Kwan, Christopher Ng, and Derrick Tan; treasurer Fan Kah Seong; as well as council members Dr John Loh, Gerard Law, Michael Goh, Theophilus Wong, Paranjit Singh, and Dr Henry Tye.
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