ICT Zone hails Budget 2027’s AI push, presses for SME support to cover device rental

ACE Market-listed technology financing (TechFin) and ICT solutions provider ICT Zone Asia Bhd has welcomed measures under Budget 2027 to lower the cost of technology investment and speeding up AI adoption among small and medium enterprises (SMEs).

In this regard, the group has called for device rental and subscription to qualify alongside outright purchase as support programmes are rolled out.

For context, Budget 2027 tabled by Prime Minister/Finance Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim yesterday (Oct 9) has extended the Accelerated Capital Allowance for ICT equipment to Dec 31, 2030 and raises the small value asset limit for capital allowance to RM3,000 per asset.

SME income tax falls to 14% on the first RM150,000 of chargeable income and 16% on the next RM450,000.

A RM30 mil fund under the Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC) will help 4,000 SMEs adopt AI with the government offering 100,000 more free AI subscriptions to young people.

ICT Zone Asia Bhd managing director and CEO Tommy Lim Kok Kwang

“These measures make technology cheaper to own but for many small businesses the hurdle is still paying for it upfront,” ICT Zone ICT Zone’s managing director and CEO Tommy Lim Kok Kwang pointed out.

“A capital allowance helps at year-end; a subscription spreads the payments from the first month and includes maintenance and support. If support programmes let businesses rent as well as buy, each can choose what suits its cash flow best.”

The group will study the implementation details and eligibility conditions of the relevant measures as they are released, according to Lim.

At the close of Friday’s (Oct 9) market trading, ICT Zone was up 1.5 sen or 6.67% to 24 sen with 8.06 million shares traded, thus valuing the company at RM191 mil. – Oct 10, 2026

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