More than 100 leaders from Malaysia’s philanthropic, corporate, social impact and development sectors gathered at the Malaysia Philanthropy Conference 2026 to explore ways to strengthen collaboration and enhance the role of strategic giving in supporting national development goals.
Held at Royale Chulan Kuala Lumpur under the theme “Catalysing Collaborative Impact: Transforming Giving for National Development”, the conference brought together philanthropic foundations, corporate foundations, impact investors, Islamic social finance institutions, policymakers, researchers and civil society organisations.
Organised by KSI Strategic Institute for Asia Pacific together with MySDG Foundation and OSK Foundation in collaboration with the Malaysian Philanthropy Network, the conference focused on how philanthropy can contribute more effectively towards Malaysia’s development priorities and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The event comes as Malaysia prepares for the implementation of the 13th Malaysia Plan and intensifies efforts to achieve the 2030 SDGs.
The conference featured discussions on governance, accountability, impact measurement, digital innovation, collaborative financing and strategic partnerships, with speakers from foundations, financial institutions, academia, social enterprises and international development organisations.
A key focus was the role of scalable and self-sustaining financing models, including blended finance, impact investment and Islamic social finance, in delivering long-term social and economic benefits.
Founder and advocate of several environmental campaigns, Her Royal Highness Tengku Datin Paduka Setia Zatashah binti Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah delivered the keynote address on philanthropy’s role in Malaysia’s development.
President of KSI Strategic Institute for Asia Pacific, Tan Sri Michael Yeoh, said philanthropy must evolve beyond a supplementary role and become a catalyst for systemic change through stronger partnerships, resources and expertise.
The conference concluded with participants reaffirming their commitment to strengthening partnerships, improving accountability and mobilising resources more effectively to support Malaysia’s long-term development aspirations.
