GOVT TO INTENSIFY SUPPORT FOR HIGH-VALUE SECTORS -- PM ANWAR

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 10 (Bernama) -- The government will intensify its support for high-value sectors, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

Anwar, who is also the Finance Minister, said a RM200 million Strategic Co-Investment Fund will provide matching capital to small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and mid-sized companies that strengthen the supply chains of key sectors through equity crowdfunding (ECF) and peer-to-peer (P2P) financing platforms.

In addition, RM180 million from the New Industrial Master Plan (NIMP) 2030 Industry Development Fund has been allocated to finance industrial development programs in high-impact sectors such as pharmaceuticals, semiconductors, artificial intelligence (AI), digital technology and sustainability, he told the Dewan Rakyat when tabling Budget 2026 today.

Meanwhile, Anwar said Khazanah Nasional Bhd and the Retirement Fund (Incorporated) (KWAP) will invest RM550 million in the semiconductor ecosystem to boost partnerships between local firms and multinational companies.

Under the National Semiconductor Strategy (NSS), Malaysia’s Development Bank (BPMB) will provide RM500 million in loans to support high-value-added activities such as research and development (R&D), particularly by local companies that support the electrical and electronics (E&E) ecosystem.

The Prime Minister added that semiconductor startups often face entry barriers due to expensive prototyping costs, and to address this, Malaysia will launch SemiconStart, an incubator program by the Malaysian Technology Development Corporation (MTDC) in collaboration with global incubators.

He said this will help early-stage startups obtain mentorship, access to global financing, discounted prototyping and customer networks.

-- BERNAMA