SALUTATION

1. Mr. Chin Chee Seong National President, SME Association of Malaysia

2. Mr. Desmond Anil A/L Raymond Norbert Organising Chairman / National Council Member, SME Association of Malaysia

3. Yang Berbahagia Datuk Fadzli Abdul Wahit Senior Vice President / Head of Digital Transformation, MDEC

4. Dr. Rasyidah Che Rosli Director of e-Invoice Division, LHDN

5. Yang Berbahagia Datuk Ada Poon National Vice President, SME Association of Malaysia

6. Ms. Miccele Siow National Vice President, SME Association of Malaysia

7. Yang Berbahagia Datuk Wira Richard Lau Vice President, SME Association of Malaysia

8. Mr. Saiful Izwan Mohd Shazali Director of National e-Invoicing & Standardisation, MDEC

9. Mr. Boon Kim San Head, Digital Business & Marketing, Affin Group

10. Mr. Christophe Vicic Chief Growth Officer, JLL Malaysia

Distinguished Guests,

Members of the Media

Ladies and Gentlemen.

Good Morning, Salam Sejahtera dan Salam Malaysia MADANI.

1. It is truly an honor to stand before you today at this Business Talk on AI in Finance & E-Invoicing for SMEs. I would like to extend my gratitude to SME Malaysia and all the organizers for bringing together such an important discussion at a crucial time for our nation’s digital transformation.

2. We live in an era where technology is no longer a luxury but a necessity. Businesses regardless of size must embrace digitalisation to remain competitive, compliant, and sustainable. And at the heart of this transformation are Artificial Intelligence (AI) and E-Invoicing, two pillars that will shape the future of business operations in Malaysia.

The Importance of Digitalisation for SMEs

3. SMEs are the backbone of Malaysia’s economy, contributing over 38% to our GDP and employing millions of Malaysians. Yet, many SMEs still rely on outdated processes, which can slow down efficiency, limit growth, and create unnecessary financial risks.

4. To thrive in the modern economy, SMEs must take advantage of AI-driven solutions and digital financial tools to enhance business operations, reduce costs, and increase compliance efficiency. E-Invoicing: A National Digital Transformation Milestone

5. As many of you are aware, Malaysia is moving towards a full implementation of E-Invoicing. This means that all businesses, regardless of size, will be required to adopt digital invoicing systems to ensure financial transparency and compliance.

6. This initiative is not just about meeting regulatory requirements—it is an opportunity to digitalise your business operations, which is a key step toward modernizing Malaysia’s financial ecosystem:

a. Faster Payments & Improved Cash Flow – No more delays due to manual invoicing.

b. Lower Administrative Costs – Businesses can reduce paperwork and focus on growth.

c. Better Tax Compliance & Transparency – E-invoicing ensures a seamless, fraud-resistant financial environment.

7. To all SME owners here today, this is the time to act. Transitioning to e-invoicing now will put you ahead of the curve and give you a competitive advantage in Malaysia’s digital economy.

AI in Finance: The Future of Smart Business Operations

8. Beyond e-invoicing, AI is reshaping the financial landscape for businesses of all sizes. With AI-powered financial tools, SMEs can:

a. Automate invoicing and expense tracking.

b. Detect fraud and cybersecurity risks before they occur.

c. Use AI-driven forecasting to make smarter financial decisions.

9. The combination of AI and e-invoicing is not just about compliance—it’s about business intelligence. By harnessing AI, SMEs can unlock greater efficiency, cost savings, and profitability.

The Role of the National AI Office (NAIO) & Government Support for SMEs

10. The Malaysian government is committed to supporting businesses in their digital transformation journey. Last year, we established the National AI Office (NAIO) as a central authority to drive Malaysia’s AI agenda. Among the objectives of the National AI Office (NAIO) include:

a. Develop a 5-year AI Strategy (2026-2030) to position Malaysia as a regional AI hub.

b. Ensuring the AI ecosystem is implemented ethically and responsibly in an effort to improve Malaysia's performance in international AI-related indices.

c. Facilitate synergy in promoting AI adoption across industries, talent development, industry and government advisory, and international collaboration, including for the SMEs

11. In February 2025, NAIO also launched 7 Working Groups to focus on:

a. AI Regulation & Policy – Ensuring AI is deployed safely & ethically.

b. AI Security: Addressing risks and threats posed by AI to ensure national and digital security.

c. AI Governance & Ethics: Operationalising governance models and ethical guidelines.

d. AI Safety: Ensuring AI systems are trustworthy, reliable, and aligned with public interest.

e. AI Talent: Building a robust AI talent pipeline in Malaysia.

f. AI Advisory: Providing insights on emerging AI trends and real-world implementation challenges.

g. AI Sovereignty: Strengthening Malaysia’s control over AI capabilities, data, and infrastructure.

12. For SMEs, this means greater access to AI-driven financial solutions, government incentives, and industry collaborations.

Preparing SMEs for a Smarter Future

Ladies and gentlemen,

13. The future of business is digital. The question is not IF your business will adopt AI and e-invoicing—it’s WHEN. We must take action today:

a. Educate your team on AI & digital invoicing.

b. Adopt scalable, cost-effective AI solutions.

c. Leverage government incentives & industry partnerships.

14. Malaysia is at a pivotal moment in its digital economy journey. We must all work together with the government, industry leaders, and SMEs to ensure Malaysia remains competitive, innovative, and financially secure.

15. The businesses that embrace AI and digital finance today will be the leaders of tomorrow. Let’s work together to build a smarter, AI-powered, and financially transparent Malaysia. Thank you, and have a wonderful and engaging discussions today.

#END#