The Securities Commission Malaysia (SC) has launched the first in a series of nationwide roadshows aimed at connecting micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and mid-tier companies (MTCs) in Malaysia’s strategic industries with capital market financing solutions.
The inaugural roadshow, Powering SemiCons: Financing Your Next Breakthrough, was held in Penang on 19 August 2026, with Penang Chief Minister YAB Chow Kon Yeow addressing the event.
The initiative is designed to give semiconductor companies and businesses across the semiconductor supply chain greater visibility of fundraising options to support business expansion, technology adoption and innovation.
The roadshows are part of the SC’s Catalysing MSME and MTC Access to the Capital Market: 5-Year Roadmap, which aims to broaden access to capital market financing for high-growth businesses.
Capital markets offer alternatives to traditional bank financing
The SC said capital market financing can complement traditional bank financing by providing businesses with a broader range of funding solutions at different stages of their growth.
These include Equity Crowdfunding (ECF), Peer-to-Peer (P2P) financing, Venture Capital (VC), Private Equity (PE), private debt and the public market.
Collectively, these financing avenues form a funding escalator that can support businesses from their startup and early growth stages through to public listing and regional expansion.
SC Chairman Dato’ Mohammad Faiz Azmi said Malaysia’s semiconductor industry remains an important driver of economic growth and industrial transformation.
“As companies move up the value chain, access to the right financing becomes increasingly critical. The capital market can help bridge this gap by offering them a broader range of funding avenues beyond traditional financing,” he said.
He added that initiatives such as the New Industrial Master Plan 2030 Strategic Co-Investment Fund (NIMP CoSIF), ECF and P2P financing are helping semiconductor SMEs and MTCs raise growth capital, strengthen their competitiveness and seize opportunities in an increasingly dynamic global semiconductor industry.
NIMP CoSIF facilitates RM221.23 million in fundraising
Since its inception, the NIMP CoSIF has facilitated RM221.23 million in public-private fundraising for 42 Malaysian companies, as at the end of July 2026.
The Strategic Co-Investment Fund is a public-private co-investment scheme under the New Industrial Master Plan 2030, with the Government co-investing alongside private investors at predetermined ratios in eligible businesses.
The SC sees such initiatives as an important mechanism for supporting Malaysian companies as they expand, adopt new technologies and move towards higher-value activities.
Penang remains a key semiconductor hub
The first roadshow was held in Penang, widely recognised as the “Silicon Valley of the East” and a cornerstone of Malaysia’s semiconductor ecosystem.
With more than 50 years of industrial development, Penang is home to more than 350 multinational corporations, over 6,500 SMEs and four of the world’s top 10 semiconductor companies.
The state has developed into one of the region’s most vibrant and globally connected semiconductor hubs, supported by a broad network of companies across the electronics and semiconductor supply chain.
Against this backdrop, the SC said improving access to growth capital will be increasingly important as companies seek to scale their operations, adopt advanced technologies and strengthen their position in global markets.
Roadshow connects businesses with investors and financing platforms
More than 150 participants from across the semiconductor and capital market ecosystem attended the Penang roadshow.
Participants included semiconductor companies, capital market intermediaries, investors, government agencies, regulators and other key ecosystem enablers.
The programme featured presentations and discussions on accessing capital market financing, alongside a booths showcase and business matching sessions with participating ECF and P2P operators.
These sessions provided companies with opportunities to explore potential fundraising options and connect directly with relevant financing platforms and ecosystem participants.
SC to take semiconductor financing roadshow nationwide
The Penang session marks the beginning of a nationwide series of engagements intended to increase awareness and adoption of capital market financing solutions across Malaysia’s industrial sector.
Upcoming roadshows will be held in key industry hubs, including Selangor, with the aim of engaging local semiconductor companies and connecting them with available funding opportunities.
Through the engagements, the SC hopes to help more MSMEs and MTCs secure growth capital, scale their operations and contribute to Malaysia’s industrial ambitions under the New Industrial Master Plan 2030 (NIMP 2030) and the National Semiconductor Strategy (NSS).
Expanding capital access for high-growth Malaysian businesses
The roadshows also form part of the SC’s wider efforts to expand funding access for high-growth companies.
The initiative directly supports the Inclusivity pillar of the Capital Market Masterplan 2026–2030, reinforcing the SC’s commitment to making Malaysia’s capital market more accessible to businesses seeking funding for expansion and transformation.
As Malaysia strengthens its position in the global semiconductor industry, the SC said greater access to diverse sources of capital will be crucial in helping local companies move up the value chain, invest in innovation and compete in international markets.
