(L – R): Dr. Sunny Ooi, Siti Farhana Abu Osman, Datuk Wira Ts. Cllement Tan, William Tham and CJ Woo, AK Tan, Jennifer Kok, Philip Rao, YB Encik Steven Sim Chee Keong, Dato’ Abdul Rauf Rashid, Dato’ SK Fong, Dato’ Calvin Chan, Ain Azizah Arifin, Esther Erin and Ethan Wong, and KeYee

KUALA LUMPUR, 29 SEPTEMBER 2026 — EY has announced the 12 Top Nominees for the EY Entrepreneur Of The Year (EOY) 2026 Malaysia awards, marking the 25th anniversary of the prestigious programme, which continues to recognise entrepreneurs who drive innovation, create opportunities and contribute to the growth of Malaysian businesses and the wider economy.

The 12 Top Nominees across the Emerging, Technology, Woman and Master Entrepreneur categories were selected by an independent panel of judges based on the programme’s four judging pillars: Entrepreneurial Spirit, Purpose, Growth and Impact.

In the Emerging Entrepreneur category, the Top Nominees are Esther Erin and Ethan Wong of Dododots, KeYee of Notti Pet Food, and CJ Woo and William Tham of The Solar House Sdn. Bhd. The Technology Entrepreneur category features Dr. Sunny Ooi of ClickAsia, AK Tan of Agmo Group and Datuk Wira Ts. Cllement Tan of Ramssol Group Berhad.

The Woman Entrepreneur category recognises Siti Farhana Abu Osman of PTTI Group Sdn. Bhd., Ain Azizah Arifin of Bubbles O2 and Jennifer Kok of Media OutReach Newswire. Meanwhile, the Master Entrepreneur category features Dato’ Calvin Chan of Oriental Kopi Holdings Berhad, Dato’ SK Fong of SkyeChip and Dr. Chieng King Chong of PMG Healthcare.

The winners of the four categories, together with the coveted EY Entrepreneur Of The Year 2026 Malaysia award, will be announced at an awards ceremony on 1 December 2026. The EOY 2026 Malaysia award winner will subsequently join country award recipients from around the world to compete for the EY World Entrepreneur Of The Year 2027 award in Monte Carlo, Monaco, in May 2027.

The announcement was officiated by Yang Berhormat Encik Steven Sim Chee Keong, Minister of Entrepreneur and Cooperatives Development, who highlighted the programme’s 25-year contribution to elevating entrepreneurship as an important force in Malaysia’s development. He also noted the role of the programme in inspiring generations of entrepreneurs to think bigger, pursue new opportunities and contribute to the nation’s long-term growth.

Dato’ Abdul Rauf Rashid, Malaysia Managing Partner, EY Malaysia, said the programme’s silver jubilee provides an opportunity to celebrate entrepreneurs who have transformed ideas into successful businesses, created lasting impact and contributed to Malaysia’s development. The increase in nominations across all categories this year, he added, reflects the continued strength and resilience of Malaysia’s entrepreneurial spirit.

Meanwhile, Philip Rao, EOY Malaysia Program Director and Partner, EY Malaysia, said this year’s theme, “The Shapers”, reflects the influence of business leaders beyond their own organisations as they shape industries, strengthen communities and contribute to the nation’s future through resilience, innovation and vision.

This year’s programme received a record number of overall nominations, highlighting its growing reach and ability to identify outstanding entrepreneurs across a diverse range of industries. The nominee pool spans sectors including technology and consumer products, healthcare and renewable energy, with the businesses collectively generating more than RM5.7 billion in revenue and supporting over 10,000 jobs.

To commemorate the 25th anniversary of EOY Malaysia, the programme has also launched Road to Monaco, a three-part podcast series produced in collaboration with BFM. The series brings together accomplished entrepreneurs to share the lessons, resilience and sense of purpose that have shaped their journeys from ambitious founders into established business leaders.

In conjunction with the event, EY also hosted a panel discussion titled “Beyond Success: What’s Next for Malaysian Entrepreneurs?”, bringing together prominent entrepreneurs and business leaders to explore what it takes to build enduring businesses, create meaningful impact and navigate challenges related to growth and succession.

The discussion covered key issues including founder’s syndrome, business transformation, leadership transitions and the growing role of agentic AI. Panelists also exchanged views on the different pace of AI adoption across industries and the importance of balancing technological innovation with practical business realities.

The EOY 2026 Malaysia judging panel comprises prominent corporate and entrepreneurial leaders, including Dato’ Fad’l Mohamed, Ganesh Kumar Bangah, Ooi Lay Pheng, Anuar Fariz Fadzil, Ronnie Lim, Sharala Axryd and Dato’ Kamarul Redzuan Muhamed.

After 25 years of celebrating entrepreneurial excellence, the EY Entrepreneur Of The Year Malaysia programme continues to provide a platform for recognising business leaders who not only build successful organisations, but also shape industries, create opportunities and contribute meaningfully to Malaysia’s economic development.

For more information about the EOY Malaysia program, please visit www.ey.com/my/eoy.