The partnership was formalised through a Participation Agreement, marked by a signing ceremony involving key figures from both organisations. The joint initiative will offer inclusive and tailored financing solutions—including Shariah-compliant payables and receivables financing, as well as term financing—delivered via digital platforms and alternative credit assessment methods.
Funding Societies Malaysia’s Country Head, Chai Kien Poon, expressed optimism about the partnership:
“We are honoured to partner with CEDAR, a long-standing advocate of SME development. By integrating with CEDAR’s digital platforms and conducting nationwide outreach, we aim to make financing more accessible, fast, and tailored to the evolving needs of SMEs in Malaysia.”
CEDAR’s CEO, Amirul Imran Ahmat, reinforced the centre’s ongoing commitment to SME growth beyond just financing:
“With over 83,000 entrepreneurs trained to date, CEDAR remains committed to being Malaysia’s centre of excellence for entrepreneurial development. Our collaboration with Funding Societies merges access to capital with SME Bank’s digital tools—like ScoreXcess, our financing portal for micro and small enterprises—to support sustained SME growth.”
The partnership was officially endorsed by Kah Meng Wong, Group Chief Operating Officer of Funding Societies, and Hairil Izwar Abd Rahman, Group Chief Digital & Technology Officer of SME Bank.
As part of the collaboration, Funding Societies and CEDAR will jointly organise financial literacy and digital adoption roadshows through SME Bank’s 19 enterprise centres nationwide.
Eligibility Criteria
Businesses seeking financing through this programme must meet the following requirements:
- Registered as a sole proprietorship, partnership, limited liability partnership, private limited company (not a subsidiary of a listed company), unlisted public company, or listed public company and its subsidiaries
- At least 30% Malaysian ownership
- Minimum annual revenue of RM1 million
- Operational for at least one year
Eligible businesses will be able to access these financing options via CEDAR’s digital platforms: ELSA, ScoreXcess, and ODELA.
This initiative exemplifies a strong public-private synergy aimed at empowering Malaysia’s SMEs through smart, scalable, and inclusive financial support.
