Can You Get a Government Grant to Build a Website in Malaysia?

Yes, a Malaysian SME can claim a 50% government grant, up to RM5,000, toward going digital under the MSME Digital Grant MADANI, and a website can qualify. The grant is administered through Bank Simpanan Nasional (BSN), with technology providers appointed by MDEC. You claim it through an approved vendor rather than as cash, and terms change between national budgets, so confirm the current rules before you count on it.

How much does the grant actually cover?

The MSME Digital Grant MADANI covers up to 50% of your project invoice, capped at RM5,000. BSN's grant page states it as "up to 50% or a maximum of RM 5,000 from total invoice amount," so whichever figure is lower is what you receive.

You can spread it across up to three digital services from the approved list. The grant pays part, and you pay the rest directly to the provider.

Invoice amount	50% would be	Grant paid (RM5,000 cap)	You pay
RM6,000	RM3,000	RM3,000	RM3,000
RM10,000	RM5,000	RM5,000	RM5,000
RM14,000	RM7,000	RM5,000	RM9,000

Source: BSN, MSME Digital Grant MADANI page, accessed August 2026. The ringgit rows are illustrative arithmetic, not a client result.

The cap is the part owners miss. Once a project passes RM10,000, the RM5,000 ceiling holds, and your own share climbs with every ringgit above it.

Does the grant cover a website?

A website can qualify. It is most often claimed under the grant's "Digital Marketing / Sales" category, not as a line item named website itself.

The program lists nine digital-adoption categories. Website, e-commerce, and digital marketing work is generally claimed through that one, via an approved provider.

The other categories cover digital payment and e-POS, HR and customer systems, cybersecurity, accounting and e-invoicing, digital signature, smart systems, and AI. Because a website is not its own named category, confirm with the provider that your specific build is claimable before you sign.

Scope decides the detail. A brochure site, an online store, and a booking system can be treated differently, so get the covered items named in the quote.

Who qualifies for the grant?

Your business must be at least 60% Malaysian-owned, and registered with the Companies Commission (SSM) or holding a local-authority business license. BSN also sets an operating history of at least six months, and an average annual sales turnover of at least RM50,000.

Those thresholds are modest by design, aimed at small and micro businesses. Check the current eligibility list on BSN's page, because the details are reviewed between budgets.

How do you actually claim it?

You claim the grant through a technology provider on MDEC's approved panel, not by paying yourself back later. You appoint one or more panel providers for up to three digital services, agree the invoice, and pay only your share.

BSN then pays the grant portion to the provider, in full or in stages. The application runs through BSN's official portal, so start there rather than through a vendor promising a shortcut.

In our experience, the businesses that use a grant well treat it as a discount on a build they had already planned, not as a reason to build. When we scope a project, we separate the compulsory, optional, and future costs, so the grant-eligible parts are clear.

A grant lowers the cost of building. It does not touch the ongoing costs of running the site, from hosting to updates.

What to watch before you rely on it

A grant is a discount, not a free website, and treating it as free is the first mistake. You still fund half the build, and everything above the RM5,000 cap is yours to pay.

The second mistake is choosing a vendor only because they sit on the panel. A place on the list is not a quality mark, so judge the provider the way you would any other, using how to choose a digital agency.

The third mistake is assuming this year's terms are next year's. The program is tied to the national budget. Its amount, rules, and even its name have shifted across cycles, so verify the live details before you plan around them.

Frequently asked questions

Can I use a government grant to build a business website in Malaysia?

Yes. The MSME Digital Grant MADANI can fund half of a qualifying digital project, up to RM5,000, and a website is commonly claimed under its digital marketing and sales category. The money goes to an MDEC-approved provider rather than to you, so the work must be done through a listed vendor. Confirm that your particular build qualifies before signing anything.

How much is the MSME Digital Grant MADANI worth?

It matches 50% of your invoice, to a maximum of RM5,000, whichever is lower. On an RM8,000 build the grant would cover RM4,000; on an RM12,000 build it still covers only RM5,000, because of the cap. You can also split the grant across up to three approved digital services.

Does the grant cover e-commerce, or only a basic website?

Both can qualify, but the eligible items depend on the approved provider's listed solutions. E-commerce, digital marketing, and a standard business site are usually claimed under the digital marketing and sales area. Because build costs vary widely, get the covered components named in the quote so nothing is assumed.

Who is eligible for the grant?

A business at least 60% Malaysian-owned, registered with SSM or holding a local-authority license, operating for at least six months, with average annual sales turnover of at least RM50,000. The thresholds target micro and small businesses. Eligibility is reviewed between budgets, so check BSN's current list rather than relying on last year's terms.

Do I get the cash, or does it go to the vendor?

The grant goes to the technology provider, not to you. You pay your share of the invoice, and BSN pays the grant portion to the approved provider directly. That is why the work has to run through a listed vendor and through BSN's official application, not as a reimbursement you arrange yourself.

Is this the same as the older SME Digitalisation Grant?

It is the same line of support under an evolving name, most recently the MSME Digital Grant MADANI administered through BSN. Amounts and rules have changed across cycles, and a future budget could revise them again. Treat any figure, including the RM5,000 cap here, as accurate at the time of writing and confirm the current terms on BSN's official page.

Turning the grant into a site worth the spend

Storming Solutions builds and maintains websites for Malaysian businesses from Kuala Lumpur, and we are glad to scope a build so the grant-eligible parts are clear before you apply. A grant is a useful discount, but it changes what a good site costs, not what a good site needs, and the same care over being found afterward still applies.

Planning a website and wondering what a grant could offset? Bring your list to our contact page or our web development page, and see what to prepare before asking for a quote so the numbers are ready.