SEBA is bringing its awards to Borneo to celebrate entrepreneurs in Sabah, Sarawak & Brunei

Every year, SEBA, also known as the SME and Entrepreneurs Business Award, recognises top Malaysian entrepreneurs and businesses. Just yesterday on November 30, SEBA 2023 Central Grand took place at Sheraton Petaling Jaya, honouring 30 entrepreneurs and 10 companies.

Wanting to uplift all SMEs in Malaysia, not just ones in the Klang Valley area, SEBA actually introduced a Northern edition of its awards in 2022.

SEBA Northern Edition is created to better celebrate entrepreneurs in the northern parts of Malaysia in areas such as Langkawi, Perlis, Kedah, Penang, and Perak.  

During the latest night of festivities and awards, SEBA’s founder Nitesh Malani announced that SEBA will be taking its dedication to celebrate businesses nationwide one step further with the launch of a Borneo edition of its awards programme. It will cover SMEs and entrepreneurs in Sabah, Sarawak, and Brunei.

Already championing all Malaysians

While SEBA will now be officially venturing into Borneo, the platform has already been a supporter of deserving East Malaysian talents and businesses.

For example, SEBA 2023 Central Grand actually spotlighted one Sabahan business—Desa Group—as well as a Sarawakian one—Faith Marine.

Wholly owned by the state government of Sabah, Desa Group is reported to be the main dairy product producer in not just Sabah but the whole or Borneo since 1980.

According to its website, Desa Group’s dairy farm operations are located at the foothill of Mount Kinabalu itself. Its group chairman, Tan Sri Datuk Liew Yun Fah, was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award in Agriculture.

Meanwhile, Faith Marine is a Sibu-based naval architecture and shipbuilding company with global clients from Australia, United Arab Emirates, Singapore, Indonesia, Russia, and more.

The company’s Managing Director, Ferdinand Wong Yiung Ying, received two awards—one for Maritime Excellence, and one for being a Visionary in Maritime & Shipbuilding.

Aside from these awardees, SEBA 2023 Central Grand was emceed by Hardy Arbi who hails from Sarawak. There were also musicians playing sape, the traditional string instrument from Borneo.

The event was also attended by Ewon Benedick, Malaysia’s Minister of Entrepreneur Development and Cooperative, who is from Sabah and is also a member of the Sabah State Legislative Assembly.

Although SEBA’s current programme is already able to honour East Malaysian guests and businesses, it’s great to see that it has mindfully dedicated a new programme that will specifically champion entrepreneurs who otherwise may not have the opportunity to be recognised.

This is especially important because many entrepreneurial events like conferences to awards are held in KL, which aren’t as accessible to those across the South China Sea.

As a publication, Vulcan Post strives to highlight entrepreneurs and businesses across all walks of life with various backgrounds, including those outside of the Klang Valley.

With that, we look forward to seeing more deserving businesses in East Malaysia being highlighted by programmes such as SEBA.

While details haven’t been announced for when SEBA’s Bornean edition will take place, nominations for the awards programme will likely open in January 2024. If you know of a Sabahan or Sarawakian business or entrepreneur that deserves to be awarded, stay tuned for more details from SEBA. 

• Learn more about SEBA here.
• Read other articles we’ve written about Malaysian startups here.

Featured Image Credit: Vulcan Post / SEBA