New SME hub set to drive entrepreneurial growth

KUCHING (March 21): The Sarawak SME Association will establish an SME Association Centre, a dedicated hub aimed at providing micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) with guidance, consultation and support in starting, sustaining and scaling their businesses.

This initiative was adopted during the association’s annual general meeting held here recently.

“Members have voted in support of acquiring a property for the SME Association Centre. A fundraising effort has been approved for the acquisition and renovation of the proposed centre

“They are also invited to propose suitable property units, with an extraordinary general meeting to be convened in due course to shortlist and vote on the final selection,” the association said in a statement.

It also reaffirmed its commitment to nurturing future entrepreneurs through mentorship and knowledge sharing, while encouraging members to provide continuous feedback to enhance its effectiveness.

Looking ahead, the association said it will host its installation night gala and launch the SME Handbook on April 18, marking a key milestone in its leadership renewal and institutional growth.

During the meeting, association president Jordan Ong highlighted the current SME landscape, noting that SMEs made up 96.1 per cent of businesses in Malaysia.

He said in Sarawak, approximately 70,000 MSMEs are registered, representing about 6.3 per cent of the national total.

“Of these, 75 per cent are micro enterprises, 22.7 per cent small enterprises, and only 2.3 per cent medium-sized businesses,” he added.

Citing insights from the Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs, Ong emphasised that SME development should move beyond input-based metrics such as participation rates, number of programmes, and funding disbursed, towards meaningful business outcomes.

“While funding support is essential, the real measure of success should be whether SMEs are growing, expanding into export markets and strengthening their position within the supply chain.

“There is a need to shift from input-based metrics to outcome-based evaluations,” he said.

Ong also encouraged SMEs in Sarawak to take a more proactive role in leveraging available platforms and urged members to actively participate in the association’s programmes, including seminars, forums, and networking sessions to build meaningful collaborations.

According to him, the association serves as a platform for members to exchange ideas, explore partnerships, and support one another.

“The more we participate, the more value we create collectively,” he added.

In strengthening its institutional framework, the association also announced several key governance and integrity measures, including formalising its authority to conduct background checks on individuals and entities engaging with the association to verify credentials, affiliations and honours.

It will also recognise only verified titles, awards, and honours, while reserving the right to disregard unverified or questionable claims.