Can I use the SME digitalisation grant for GEO or AI SEO? (Malaysia)

We could not confirm it. As of 12 October 2026, official pages disagree on whether Malaysia's SME digitalisation grant, the Geran Digital PMKS MADANI, is taking applications: the Ministry of Finance's portal says open, and the application form says closed. Its published rules don't name GEO or AI SEO. In our reading the closest category is "Digital Marketing / Sales", and the service has to be bought from an appointed service provider.

Say an AI SEO quote is on your desk and someone tells you a grant can cover part of it. Before you plan around that, read what the official pages say.

This guide isn't financial or legal advice. EasyFound sells AI SEO, so we have an interest in the answer. Confirm with BSN or MDEC before you spend.

Is the SME digitalisation grant open for GEO or AI SEO right now?

We could not confirm that the SME digitalisation grant is open, for GEO, AI SEO or anything else, because the official pages don't agree:

• BSN's notice. Bank Simpanan Nasional (BSN) supervises the grant. Its notice says: "All applications must be made through a valid online platform", and links to one form.¹
• The Ministry of Finance's portal. Portal Manfaat lists a "Geran Padanan Digital PMKS" under BSN with the status "Permohonan Dibuka" (applications open; our translation). It gives no dates and points to the same form.²
• The form itself. The application platform linked from BSN's notice now reads: "This form is now closed. In line with the Joint Committee’s instruction, applications closed effective 6 Sep 2025".³

BSN's grant page still shows an "Apply Now" button that leads to that form.⁴ Our reading is that the form is the best guide to today, because it is where an application would go. We found no official notice of a new round, and none saying the grant has ended for good.

Two Budget speeches point to more support, without opening a round:

• Budget 2026. The speech's appendix lists a "Geran Padanan Digital PMKS" under BSN's grants.⁵
• Budget 2027. The speech of 9 October 2026 says an MDEC fund will help PMKS "menerapkan AI dan mengautomasi operasi" (adopt AI and automate operations; our translation).⁶ It gives no application details. Portal Manfaat lists an MDEC AI programme for PMKS as not yet open for applications.

So the rules below come from the last published round. A new round may change them.

What do the SME digitalisation grant rules say about digital marketing, AI and providers?

The SME digitalisation grant's rules list nine digital services by name, and neither GEO nor AI SEO is on the list. Digital marketing and AI are. The table quotes BSN's documents for the round announced under Budget 2025. The same FAQ says the grant "is subject to the allocated budget".

Does GEO or AI SEO fit the grant's digital marketing or AI category?

GEO and AI SEO aren't named in the grant's rules, so nothing in them says yes or no. Our reading is that the nearest fit is Digital Marketing / Sales, because GEO is work to get a business mentioned when customers ask AI tools such as ChatGPT.

The AI category describes a machine or program that does the thinking. Our reading is that an AI SEO service is marketing work about AI tools, not an AI system you run. That is a reading, not a ruling.

Two cautions:

• The category comes with the provider, in our reading. MDEC's 2025 call asked providers to show work in at least one of its "Digitalisation Areas", which include "Digital Marketing / Sales" and "Artificial Intelligence".⁹ The provider list on BSN's grant page is grouped by those areas.¹⁰
• Describe the work accurately. Ask the provider and BSN which category the work falls under, and don't ask anyone to relabel it. The terms say that if information is "inaccurate and/or false", BSN may reject the application.⁸

Do I have to buy GEO or AI SEO from an approved provider to use the grant?

Yes, under the published rules. The SME digitalisation grant pays for services from appointed providers, whether that is GEO, AI SEO or a POS system. BSN pays its share to the service provider, not to you. The application needs "Quotations / payment invoices from appointed service providers".⁷

BSN's notice adds: "Applicants are encouraged to deal only with technology companies listed in the link."¹ BSN's grant page links a provider list, a PDF created in August 2025.¹⁰ It belongs to the last round, so ask BSN or MDEC for the current one.

Where EasyFound stands: We have not confirmed that EasyFound is on any grant's approved provider list; ask us before you apply, and check the official list yourself.

What can't this guide tell me about the SME digitalisation grant and AI SEO?

• Whether a new round is open. We read the pages on 12 October 2026. They disagree, and an opening may be announced after that.
• Other schemes. We checked the Geran Digital PMKS MADANI. We did not research SME Corp, HRD Corp or state schemes.
• A ruling on GEO. BSN and MDEC decide whether a service qualifies, and we didn't ask them.

How do I check if the SME digitalisation grant can pay for my GEO or AI SEO?

Decide first whether AI SEO is worth it, then treat the grant as a bonus if it applies.

1. Request EasyFound's free check. See what ChatGPT says about your business, then go through it with us on a free call. Much early work is free to do yourself, as our hire-or-DIY guide shows.
2. Check that a round is open. Ask BSN directly, and don't rely on an AI answer or a seller's word, ours included. In our tally, ChatGPT cited SME Corp mainly for grants and programmes.
3. Check your eligibility. Read the ownership, registration, operating-period and sales tests in the current FAQ, and whether you've had a digital matching grant before.
4. Check the category. Ask the provider and BSN which category the work falls under, and compare the quotation with what an AI SEO service does each month.
5. Check the provider list. Confirm the provider with BSN or MDEC, not only on the provider's own website.
6. Keep records. Keep the quotation, invoice and proof of payment. The terms say a business "must submit Proof of Activation if requested by BSN at any time".

EasyFound is an AI SEO service for Malaysian businesses. We check how often you're named across six AI tools in English, Malay and Chinese, then work on the pages they draw on. The free check below is the first step.