KUALA LUMPUR (Oct 1): The EY Entrepreneur of the Year 2026 Malaysia awards has shortlisted 12 top nominees across four entrepreneur categories — Emerging, Technology, Woman and Master.
The nominees of the respective categories are:
Emerging Entrepreneur: Esther Erin and Ethan Wong from Dododots; Yap Ke Yee from Notti Pet Food; and Woo Chin Jye and William Tham from The Solar House Sdn Bhd.
Technology Entrepreneur: Dr Sunny Ooi from ClickAsia; Tan Aik Keong from Agmo Group; and Datuk Wira Cllement Tan from Ramssol Group Bhd (KL:RAMSSOL).
Woman Entrepreneur: Siti Farhana Abu Osman from PTTI Group Sdn Bhd; Ain Azizah Arifin from Bubbles O2; and Jennifer Kok from Media OutReach Newswire.
Master Entrepreneur: Datuk Calvin Chan from Oriental Kopi Holdings Bhd (KL:KOPI), Datuk Fong Swee Kiang of SkyeChip Bhd (KL:SKYECHIP); and Dr Chieng King Chong of PMG Healthcare Group.
The winners of each category, as well as the coveted EY Entrepreneur of The Year 2026 Malaysia award, will be announced at an awards ceremony on Dec 1.
The EY Entrepreneur of The Year 2026 Malaysia will then join other country award recipients from around the globe in May 2027 to compete for the EY World Entrepreneur of The Year 2027 award in Monte Carlo, Monaco.
Minister of Entrepreneur and Cooperatives Development Steven Sim Chee Keong, officiating the nominee unveiling ceremony on Sept 29, commended the EY Entrepreneur of The Year programme for having helped to elevate entrepreneurship as a vital force in Malaysia’s development. The programme has inspired generations to think bigger and aim higher, he said.
“As we look ahead, entrepreneurship will become even more important. Malaysia's long-term success will depend in no small measure on the ability of our entrepreneurs to innovate, grow and seize opportunities in an increasingly competitive world. Congratulations once again to EY for its enduring commitment to championing entrepreneurship,” he added.
EY Malaysia managing partner Datuk Abdul Rauf Rashid said the programme, which marked its silver jubilee this year, is proud to recognise the remarkable entrepreneurs who have transformed ideas into businesses, created lasting impact and contributed to the country’s development.
“The increase in nominations this year across all categories demonstrates that Malaysia’s entrepreneurial spirit remains vibrant and resilient. We are honored to play a role in recognising these inspiring individuals whose leadership and innovation continue to drive progress for our economy and communities,” Abdul Rauf said.
EY Entrepreneur of the Year Malaysia programme director Philip Rao, who is also partner of EY Malaysia, said the programme's theme this year — “the Shapers” — reflects the influence that business leaders have beyond their own organisations.
“This year’s response has been particularly encouraging as we received a record number of overall nominees, which demonstrates the program’s growing reach and its ability to uncover outstanding entrepreneurs beyond our existing community. The nominee pool also reflects a diverse range of business, including technology and consumer products, healthcare and renewable energy. Collectively, they generate more than RM5.7 billion in revenue and support over 10,000 jobs, highlighting the important role entrepreneurs play in driving economic growth and creating opportunities across Malaysia,” Rao added.
In celebration of the programme's 25th anniversary, EY Entrepreneur of the Year Malaysia has launched “Road to Monaco”, a podcast series produced in collaboration with BFM.
The three-part series features accomplished entrepreneurs sharing insights on resilience and purpose, and the lessons they learnt as they navigated their journeys from ambitious founders to industry leaders. To watch the full series, visit ey.com/my/eoy.
