Securities Commission Malaysia and Invest Sabah bring equity crowdfunding and peer-to-peer financing to the forefront of East Malaysia’s business landscape
In a concerted effort to broaden financial access for underserved micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in East Malaysia, the Malaysia Co-Investment Fund (MyCIF)—a public-private co-investment initiative under the Ministry of Finance—hosted a dedicated outreach roadshow in Sabah.
Themed “Empowering Financing, Advancing Growth”, the event was officiated by YB Datuk Phoong Jin Zhe, Sabah’s Minister of Industrial Development & Entrepreneurship. Held in Kota Kinabalu, the one-day session attracted close to 300 participants from the business community, including MSMEs, government agencies, venture capitalists, private equity firms and registered equity crowdfunding (ECF) and peer-to-peer (P2P) financing platforms.
Jointly organised by the Securities Commission Malaysia (SC) and Invest Sabah Berhad, the initiative aims to raise awareness and uptake of alternative financing models such as ECF and P2P financing—particularly for businesses that struggle to obtain traditional loans.
“This roadshow plays a critical role in our national outreach to promote alternative finance as a viable growth driver,” said SC Chairman, Dato’ Mohammad Faiz Azmi. “Through MyCIF, the government continues to empower MSMEs as core engines of innovation, employment, and economic development.”
Alternative Finance for Inclusive Economic Growth
Since its inception under the 2019 Federal Budget, MyCIF has co-invested in more than 70,000 campaigns, benefiting over 9,500 MSMEs nationwide. In 2024 alone, the fund crossed the RM1 billion mark in co-investments and mobilised over RM6 billion in total funds when combined with private capital.
MyCIF operates under a 1:4 co-investment ratio for general campaigns, and a 1:2 ratio for targeted impact-driven sectors such as food security and environmental sustainability. This flexible model enables the fund to maximise impact while attracting robust private sector participation—with every ringgit invested by MyCIF drawing in 4.1 times more from private investors.
Through booths, networking sessions and breakout discussions, Sabah’s entrepreneurs had the opportunity to connect directly with SC-registered ECF and P2P platform operators, gaining valuable insights into the fundraising process and hearing real success stories from fellow business owners.
“Partnering with the SC has allowed us to bring real capital solutions closer to Sabah’s entrepreneurs,” said Dr. Firdausi Suffian, CEO of Invest Sabah Berhad. “This platform not only builds financing awareness, but also fosters meaningful relationships that can accelerate the growth of local enterprises.”
Budget 2025: Strengthening Support for MSMEs
As part of the federal government’s ongoing commitment to economic inclusivity, RM40 million was allocated under Budget 2025 to expand access to ECF and P2P financing nationwide. This ensures that MSMEs in Sabah and across Malaysia have the opportunity to tap into alternative financing channels that are more accessible, flexible, and growth-focused than conventional loans.
By bridging the funding gap, MyCIF is helping to build a more resilient and digitally enabled business ecosystem—one that reflects the evolving needs of the modern entrepreneur.
For more information about the Malaysia Co-Investment Fund (MyCIF), visit https://www.sc.com.my/mycif.
