SAMENTA Urges Protection for SMEs from Rising Platform Costs

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 10, 2026 — The Small and Medium Enterprises Association of Malaysia (SAMENTA) has welcomed Budget 2027, describing it as a business-friendly blueprint that addresses key challenges faced by small and medium enterprises (SMEs), while cautioning against cost burdens being shifted onto merchants by digital platforms.

SAMENTA president Datuk William Ng said the RM510 billion Budget 2027 directly supports the association’s long-standing agenda of helping local businesses scale up through tax relief, financing access and innovation support.

Among the measures welcomed by the association are the reduction in corporate income tax rates for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), the exemption of SMEs with annual turnover below RM50 million from the revised RM2,000 minimum wage requirement, and the expansion of financing and guarantee facilities to RM57 billion.

SMEs

The association said the revised SME tax rates of 14 per cent on the first RM150,000 of taxable income and 16 per cent on the next RM450,000 would provide immediate liquidity for business reinvestment.

However, SAMENTA stressed that efforts to raise incomes for e-hailing drivers and delivery riders must not result in higher costs for merchants. It called for a merchant commission cap of 20 per cent, inclusive of ancillary charges, and urged authorities to prevent digital platforms from increasing fees to offset gig worker incentives.

The association also welcomed plans to introduce an E-Commerce Bill, saying stronger regulation of foreign online sellers would help restore fair competition and protect local businesses.

SAMENTA said the success of Budget 2027 would ultimately depend on swift implementation and minimal bureaucratic hurdles.

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