Malaysia’s small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are entering what the Small and Medium Enterprises Association Malaysia (Samenta) calls a “survival zone” in 2026, as new regulatory and compliance requirements take full effect.
Rising Compliance Costs Affecting Businesses
Rules such as the Stamp Duty Self-Assessment System, multi-tier foreign worker levies, mandatory e-invoicing, and ESG-linked obligations are driving up costs and straining resources. Samenta president Datuk William Ng warned that many SMEs lack the financial capacity and expertise to cope, risking exclusion from supply chains.
He urged the government to adopt incentive-driven policies, including a moratorium on new costs, AI-powered compliance tools, and training support to ensure SMEs can survive and grow.
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