PETALING JAYA (Aug 20): The Securities Commission Malaysia (SC) encourages micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and mid-tier companies (MTCs) in strategic industries to tap into funding via capital market financing solutions, including equity crowdfunding (ECF), peer-to-peer financing (P2P), venture capital (VC), private equity (PE) and debt, on top of the public market.

To achieve such a goal, the SC launched the first series of roadshows — the Semiconductor Roadshow — on Wednesday, Aug 19, to provide semiconductor companies and related companies in the supply chain with greater visibility of the fundraising options to support their business expansion, technology adoption and innovation to drive long-term competitiveness.

The intention of the programme is in line with the SC's Catalysing MSME and MTC Access to the Capital Market: Five-Year Roadmap.

The inaugural roadshow, Powering SemiCons: Financing Your Next Breakthrough, was held in Penang. Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow addressed the event.

In a press release, the SC pointed out that capital market solutions complement traditional banking by offering businesses a broader range of funding solutions.

Collectively, these financing avenues form a funding escalator that supports businesses at different stages of growth, from start-up to public listing and regional expansion.

SC chairman Datuk Mohammad Faiz Azmi said the semiconductor industry remains a key driver of Malaysia's 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.

"Through these initiatives, such as the NIMP, CoSIF, ECF and P2P financing, we are enabling semiconductor SMEs and MTCs to raise growth capital, strengthen their competitiveness and seize opportunities in an increasingly dynamic global semiconductor industry," he added.

According to the press release, the NIMP CoSIF, or New Industrial Master Plan Co-Investment Fund, has facilitated public-private fundraising amounting to RM221.23 million for 42 Malaysian companies as at end-July 2026.

The NIMP CoSIF is an initiative by the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (Miti) and the SC that helps MSMEs and MTCs get funding by matching funds raised through approved ECF and P2P financing platforms.

The roadshow was held in Penang as it is widely recognised as the "Silicon Valley of the East" and a cornerstone of Malaysia's semiconductor ecosystem.

Backed by over 50 years of industrial excellence, the state hosts more than 350 multinational companies, over 6,500 SMEs and four of the world's top 10 semiconductor companies, making it one of the region's most vibrant and globally connected semiconductor hubs.

The Penang session marks the first in a nationwide series of engagements aimed at increasing awareness and adoption of capital market financing solutions within Malaysia's industrial sector.

Upcoming roadshows will be held in key industry hubs, including Selangor, with the aim of engaging local semiconductor players and connecting them with funding opportunities available through the capital market.

Through these engagements, the SC hopes to help more MSMEs and MTCs secure growth capital, scale their operations and contribute to Malaysia's aspirations under the NIMP 2030 and the National Semiconductor Strategy.

The roadshows also reflect the SC's initiative and commitment to expanding access to funding for high-growth companies, directly supporting the inclusivity pillar of the Capital Market Masterplan 2026-2030.