Malaysia must continue to chart forward and elevate its digital agenda, said Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC).

Chief operating officer Datuk Ng Wan Peng said this is not only to tap into the opportunities worth US$100 billion in Southeast Asia's digital economy but also to prepare the small and medium enterprises (SMEs) from any unforeseen economic disruptions.

"So, it's important to ensure the SMEs can thrive and continue to grow.

"If the SMEs don't do well, our economy will be impacted," she said at the launch of 'Celcom Business - Reimagine SME for Tomorrow' campaign yesterday.

The SME sector plays significant role in Malaysia's economy, constituting 98.5 per cent of business establishments in the country and employs more than 66 per cent of workforce.

Ng said despite the growing interest among SMEs in adopting digital transformation, some are still worried about the cost of adoption, which she reiterated is very much affordable, starting from a few hundred ringgit.

Besides cost, the SMEs are also concerned about the lack of infrastructure and knowledge.

Hence, Ng called on telecommunication companies to improve their infrastructure to support the country's digital journey.

The telecommunications sector is the most important industry to drive digitalisation, she added.

-- BERNAMA