Beyond SME Survival: Using AI & Branding to Thrive in 2026

For Malaysian SMEs, 2025 was a defensive year, graded a modest C+ (or B-) by SAMENTA. It was a year defined by uneven recovery, compliance shocks (from e-Invoicing to SST hikes), and the "Second China Shock" squeezing local businesses.

For 2026, Datuk William Ng, National President of SAMENTA, outlines a strategy of "Selective Offense”. We discuss why businesses must prioritise cash preservation over aggressive expansion, how to navigate the talent crisis exacerbated by minimum wage hikes, and why "financial hygiene" is the key to unlocking bank financing and private equity.

We also explore why branding is the only true leverage SMEs have left to regain pricing power in a market where costs are spiraling.

NOTE: This interview was recorded prior to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim delivering his 2026 New Year Message. After reaching out to Datuk William for his reactions, updated commentary on the extended e-invoicing transition period to 12months and SST revisions has been woven into the conversation.

We discuss:

• The 2025 Review: Why export-oriented SMEs thrived while domestic players struggled.

• The 2026 Strategy: Why "Selective Offense" and automation are the themes of the year.

• The Talent Crisis: How minimum wage hikes and the gig economy are hollowing out the workforce.

• The AI Reality: Moving from fear to practical use cases like ESG reporting and demand forecasting.

• The Equity Question: What to know before selling a stake to Private Equity.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.