SME Bank continues the production of the SUKSES TV program by introducing SUKSES 4.0, a reality TV format entrepreneurship competition aimed to nurture digital savvy young entrepreneurs to face new norm business challenges. SUKSES 4.0 will traverse the journey of 10 participants from start-up companies to micro level with the guidance from mentors who are also SME Bank’s successful customers.

SME Bank Group President / Chief Executive Officer, Aria Putera Ismail said, “Looking at the importance of social media and digital adaptation in business especially during this difficult period, SME Bank changed the SUKSES 4.0 format to provide long-term value to participants and enable them to adapt to the latest trends in the business world. In addition, participants also have the opportunity to learn directly with mentor entrepreneurs on how to grow their business thus ensuring its sustainability.”

“Each participant is given two tasks; the first will test the participants’ entrepreneurial skills and how they apply the knowledge gained from the mentors into their respective businesses. The second task is related to social media for business where participants have to upload the task on their respective social media platforms and apply the digital marketing techniques learned,” added Aria.

To ensure the program has a significant impact on participants, SME Bank has appointed four professional judges with extensive experience in financing, digital marketing and entrepreneurial icons from the services as well as food and beverage sectors. They are, Hamdan Mohd Habibollah, Head of Stakeholders Management, SME Bank; Aaliyah Soraya Darus, General Manager of Nuffnang Live Commerce Sdn. Bhd. representing the digital marketing sector; and Dato’ Wan Mohammad Sani Salleh, Founder & Group Advisor of Sani United Berhad and Azri Zahier Azmi, Founder & Chief Executive Officer of The Boom Beverage Sdn. Bhd.

The selection of these judges is expected to give value through their guidance, experience and knowledge to the participants in developing their respective businesses. Scores are audited by a certified auditor appointed specifically for SUKSES 4.0.

Aria added, “To ensure that the participants are equipped with entrepreneurial knowledge and have the characteristics of successful entrepreneurs, they are given the opportunity to attend complete entrepreneurship training classes conducted by the Center for Entrepreneur Development and Research Sdn. Bhd. (CEDAR), a wholly-owned subsidiary of SME Bank and the digital business class by Master Azriel of Azriel Consulting and Training.”

Various challenges will be faced by the participants to win the title of SUKSES 4.0 Champion which offers overall prizes worth more than RM100,000. In appreciation of the home viewers, a weekly quiz will be posted on SUKSES 4.0 Facebook and prizes worth RM10,000 await the winners. SUKSES 4.0 is hosted by Fattah Amin and will start airing on 11 July 2021 every Sunday, at 9.00 pm on AWANI 501 with repeat broadcast every Thursday at 3.30 pm. Viewers can also follow SUKSES 4.0 Diary which feature snippets of the SUKSES 4.0 participants’ journey via SUKSES 4.0 YouTube channel which will be uploaded every Fridays.

The original SUKSES TV program was the Winner for Entrepreneur Development Program Award from the Association of Development Financing Institutions in Asia and the Pacific (ADFIAP) during its 41st General Meeting held in New Delhi, India in 2018.