EY unveiled the Top Nominees for the EY Entrepreneur of The Year (EOY) 2026 Malaysia awards, celebrating 25 years of recognizing entrepreneurs who drive innovation, create opportunities and contribute to the growth of Malaysian businesses.
The 12 Top Nominees in the Emerging, Technology, Woman and Master categories were selected by an independent panel of judges based on the program’s four judging pillars: Entrepreneurial spirit, Purpose, Growth and Impact.
Winners of the four categories, as well as the coveted EY Entrepreneur of The Year 2026 Malaysia award, will be announced and celebrated at an awards ceremony on 1 December 2026. In May 2027, the EOY 2026 Malaysia award winner will join country award recipients from around the globe to compete for the EY World Entrepreneur of The Year 2027 award in Monte Carlo, Monaco.
The event was officiated by Minister of Entrepreneur and Cooperatives Development, Steven Sim Chee Keong, “For 25 years, the EY Entrepreneur of The Year program has done more than recognize successful business leaders. It has helped elevate entrepreneurship as a vital force in Malaysia’s development while inspiring generations of entrepreneurs to think bigger and aim higher. As we look ahead, entrepreneurship will become even more important. Malaysia’s long-term success will depend in no small measure on the ability of our entrepreneurs to innovate, grow and seize opportunities in an increasingly competitive world,” he said.
Datuk Abdul Rauf Rashid, Malaysia Managing Partner, EY Malaysia, said 2026 saw an increase in nominations across all categories. “As we celebrate the silver jubilee of the EY Entrepreneur of The Year program in Malaysia, we are proud to recognize the remarkable entrepreneurs who have transformed ideas into businesses, created lasting impact and contributed to the country’s development. The increase in nominations demonstrates that Malaysia’s entrepreneurial spirit remains vibrant and resilient.”
“We received a record number of overall nominees this year which demonstrates the program’s growing reach and ability to uncover outstanding entrepreneurs beyond our existing community. The nominee pool also reflects a diverse range of business, including technology and consumer products, healthcare and renewable energy. Collectively, they generate more than RM5.7 billion in revenue and support over 10,000 jobs, highlighting the important role entrepreneurs play in driving economic growth and creating opportunities across Malaysia,” said Philip Rao, EOY Malaysia Program Director and Partner, EY Malaysia.
The nominees of the respective categories are:
Emerging Entrepreneur: Esther Erin and Ethan Wong from Dododots; Yap Ke Yee from Notti Pet Food; and Woo Chin Jye and William Tham from The Solar House Sdn Bhd.
Technology Entrepreneur: Dr Sunny Ooi from ClickAsia; Tan Aik Keong from Agmo Group; and Datuk Wira Cllement Tan from Ramssol Group Bhd.
Woman Entrepreneur: Siti Farhana Abu Osman from PTTI Group Sdn Bhd; Ain Azizah Arifin from Bubbles O2; and Jennifer Kok from Media OutReach Newswire.
Master Entrepreneur: Datuk Calvin Chan from Oriental Kopi Holdings Bhd, Datuk Fong Swee Kiang of SkyeChip Bhd; and Dr Chieng King Chong of PMG Healthcare Group.