Niaga SPOTLIGHT: Belanjawan 2027 | Breaking Malaysia’s paper ceiling

Malaysia’s MSMEs generated almost RM690 billion in economic value in 2025 and employed more than eight million people. But, what does it cost MSMEs when essential workflows are still in paper files, manual approvals and repeated data entry?

Ahead of Belanjawan 2027, Tehmina Kaoosji speaks with Christina Chia, Co-founder and CEO of Sabah-based Blaze Tech, about the cost of Malaysians MSMEs remaining trapped in the basic digitalisation stage, what would help businesses use technology well, and the barriers facing firms outside the Klang Valley.

The Government’s previous RM1.5 billion business digitalisation initiative for MSMEs was funded through public-private partnerships. Where should the next Budget focus its attention?