We were at the Grand Ballroom of Renaissance Kuala Lumpur Hotel & Convention Centre on 16 October 2026 for the Enterprise 50 (E50) Awards 2026. The awards are organised by the Ministry of Entrepreneur and Cooperatives Development (KUSKOP) and SME Corp Malaysia.
E50 picks 50 of the best small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Malaysia each year. Companies are judged on their finances, and on things like how they’re led and how they use new ideas. This year’s theme was “Meraikan Semangat Keusahawanan Malaysia”, which means celebrating the spirit of Malaysian entrepreneurship.
The night brought together business owners, industry leaders and partners of the awards. Entrepreneur and Cooperatives Development Minister Steven Sim officiated the event, together with SME Corp Malaysia CEO YBrs. Encik Rizal bin Dato’ Nainy. Officials from KUSKOP and SME Corp Malaysia and TYT Dr. Karomidin Gadoev, Uzbekistan’s Ambassador to Malaysia also attended.
The Night Started With Saxophone Music And Finger Food
We arrived at 6.30pm as guests started gathering. A saxophonist played while people chatted, and there were finger food and snacks all around the room. Most guests came dressed in black, and the ballroom was filled with 62 tables.
The official programme started when Steven Sim arrived. Everyone stood for Negaraku, and this was followed by a doa.
This Year’s E50 Had 160 Nominations
In his welcome speech, Rizal told us this is the 24th E50 since the awards started in 1997. SME Corp received 160 nominations this year, the most in E50’s history.
E50 also ran an export conference and business matching sessions over two days, ending on the day of the awards. Rizal said these sessions produced RM420 million in potential sales for the companies taking part.
Steven Sim Called Budget 2027 An SME Budget
Sim opened his speech with a Chinese saying. You spend one minute on stage collecting an award, but it takes ten years of hard work to get there. “Tonight is your night,” he told the companies in the room. He also got everyone laughing when he said SME groups tell him all year that business is tough, yet on awards night every SME is suddenly doing well.
He called Budget 2027 an SME budget. Financing for SMEs goes up from RM50 billion to RM57 billion. He also said SMEs are exempted from the latest minimum wage increase. It’s the first time this has happened since Malaysia’s minimum wage law started in 2013.
Syamel AF And Ernie Zakri Sang Over Dinner
We had a three-course Western set for dinner, starting with a beetroot timbale with feta. For the main, guests chose between garlic lemon chicken and oven-roasted barramundi, and we went for the barramundi. Dessert was a lemongrass pineapple panna cotta. We enjoyed every course, while Syamel AF and Ernie Zakri performed.
Syamel AF sang “Cukup Sekali”, a newer song that some guests knew and some were hearing for the first time. Ernie Zakri brought a pop power ballad sound to the room with “Ku Bersuara”, and the two then sang “Aku Cinta” together. We loved listening to them sing.
Nims Adelicius Sdn Bhd Topped E50 2026
Nims Adelicius Sdn Bhd was named the top company of E50 2026 when the awards began at 9pm. Afiat Syarikat Sdn Bhd came in second, and Skinlab Biochem Resources (M) Sdn Bhd came in third. The 50 winners also included some brands you might already know, such as Dododoots and BigOnion Catering.
Three special awards were given out on top of the E50 list. Fire Fighter Sdn Bhd won the E50 Best Woman Entrepreneur Award, and Billion Prima Sdn Bhd won the E50 Best Entrepreneur Award. Duriane Professionals Sdn Bhd took home the E50 ESG Practice Award. ESG stands for environmental, social and governance. The E50 ESG Practice Award goes to a company that looks after the environment and its people, and is run in a fair and open way.
What Budget 2027 Means If You Run Or Work At An SME
Berjaya Sompo Insurance was the main sponsor for the night, and the partners included Maybank, Credit Guarantee Corporation (CGC) and Malaysian Industrial Development Finance (MIDF). These are the same places a small business goes to when it needs money to grow. CGC helps businesses that don’t have much to put up as security get a bank loan, while MIDF and Maybank both offer financing for SMEs.
If you run a business, there’s more money available to borrow next year. You can compare SME business loans on RinggitPlus to see what each bank offers and what you need to apply.
If you work at a small or medium business, Sim’s speech affects your pay. The minimum wage goes up to RM2,000 from June 2027, but SMEs won’t have to follow this increase. Ask your employer if your company counts as an SME, and read what the new RM2,000 minimum wage means for you.
The night ended with karaoke from the crowd and the emcees chatting with guests. For us, watching these companies go up on stage showed how far a Malaysian business can grow. It also showed how proud we all feel when one of us does well.
Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel for the latest money tips and updates.
The post Enterprise 50 Awards 2026 Honour 50 Local Companies appeared first on RinggitPlus.
