FAQ

1.1 What is SEBA?

SEBA is a premier business recognition platform that celebrates entrepreneurs, enterprises, corporations, and industry leaders who demonstrate excellence, leadership, innovation, sustainability, growth, and contribution to the business ecosystem.

1.2 Who owns and manages SEBA?

SEBA is held under the proprietary rights of Yayasan Usahawan Malaysia (YUM) / Entrepreneurship Foundation Malaysia. The mandate for the execution, management, administration, commercialisation, marketing, sponsorship, event delivery, and related activities of SEBA has been granted to Xhale Asia (M) Sdn Bhd, unless otherwise determined by YUM.

1.3 Is SEBA only for SMEs?

No. SEBA recognises outstanding entrepreneurs, SMEs, enterprises, corporations, professional leaders, innovators, industry contributors, and organisations across multiple sectors and markets, subject to the relevant award categories and eligibility criteria.

1.4 Is SEBA an international awards platform?

SEBA is positioned as a business recognition platform with Malaysian roots and regional aspirations, including recognition across ASEAN and Asia, subject to the respective edition, category, programme, and award structure.

2.1 Who can be nominated?

Eligible nominees may include businesses, entrepreneurs, founders, SMEs, corporations, social enterprises, industry leaders, professionals, innovators, and organizations that meet the applicable category requirements.

2.2 Can I nominate myself or my company?

Yes. Self-nominations may be accepted, provided the information submitted is complete, truthful, accurate, and supported by the required documents.

2.3 Can another party nominate a company or individual?

Yes. Third-party nominations may be accepted, subject to verification, nominee consent, eligibility review, and compliance with SEBA’s nomination procedures.

2.4 How do I submit a nomination?

Nominations must be submitted through the official SEBA nomination process, online nomination system, or any approved channel prescribed by the Organizers.

2.5 What information is required?

Nominees may be required to provide company details, business profile, leadership background, financial or operational information, achievements, supporting documents, media materials, testimonials, certifications, licenses, and any other information requested by the Organizers.

2.6 Must all information submitted be accurate?

Yes. By submitting a nomination, the nominee confirms that all information provided is true, accurate, complete, and not misleading. The Organizers reserve the right to verify the information submitted.

2.7 Can SEBA request additional documents?

Yes. SEBA may request additional documents, clarifications, interviews, presentations, financial references, company records, credit standing verification, compliance documents, or other supporting materials.

3.1 Are there nomination or participation fees?

Nomination, processing, participation, administrative, licensing, branding, event, media, or related fees may apply depending on the award category, package, programme, or edition.

3.2 Are nomination fees refundable?

All nomination, processing, administrative, participation, branding, licensing, event, sponsorship, table, seat, media, and related fees are strictly non-refundable, unless otherwise approved in writing by the SEBA Board of Advisors and/or the Organisers on a case-by-case basis.

3.3 Does payment guarantee an award?

No. Payment of any nomination, participation, administrative, event, sponsorship, or branding fee does not guarantee selection, shortlisting, award conferment, award title approval, category placement, media coverage, or any specific commercial outcome.

3.4 What happens if a nominee withdraws?

Any withdrawal by a nominee shall not automatically entitle the nominee to a refund. All refund requests, if any, shall be subject to the sole discretion of the Board of Advisors and/or Organizers.

4.1 How are nominees evaluated?

Nominees may be evaluated based on business performance, leadership, innovation, sustainability, market impact, governance, growth, resilience, social contribution, industry influence, reputation, and category-specific criteria.

4.2 Who judges the nominations?

Nominations may be reviewed by the Organisers, appointed evaluators, category reviewers, industry advisors, judging panel, and/or the SEBA Board of Advisors.

4.3 Is the judging process confidential?

Yes. Judging discussions, scoring, evaluation notes, deliberations, and internal recommendations are confidential and shall not be disclosed unless required by law or approved by the Organisers.

4.4 Can nominees request their scores or judging comments?

SEBA is not obliged to disclose individual scores, rankings, deliberation notes, judging comments, or comparative assessments.

4.5 Are all nominees guaranteed to become winners?

No. Nomination does not guarantee shortlisting, selection, award conferment, award title allocation, publicity, or commercial entitlement.

4.6 Who makes the final decision?

All decisions by the Board of Advisors, judging panel, and Organisers shall be final, conclusive, and binding.

4.7 Can the award title be changed?

Yes. SEBA reserves the right to determine, amend, refine, merge, rename, upgrade, downgrade, withhold, or reallocate any award title, category, or recognition based on evaluation outcome, category suitability, brand standards, and programme requirements.

5.1 How does SEBA recognition support brand credibility?

SEBA recognition may support business credibility by providing external validation, market visibility, stakeholder confidence, investor perception, media value, employer branding, and enhanced reputation within the business ecosystem.

5.2 Can nominees use their SEBA nomination status for marketing?

Nominees may only use their nomination status in a manner approved by the Organizers. Any public reference to “Nominee”, “Finalist”, “Shortlisted”, “Recipient”, “Winner”, or equivalent status must be accurate and must not mislead the public.

5.3 Can winners promote their award?

Yes. Confirmed winners may promote their approved SEBA award title subject to SEBA’s brand guidelines, usage rights, licensing terms, and written approvals where required.

5.4 Does SEBA guarantee business growth or commercial results?

No. SEBA recognition may enhance visibility and credibility, but SEBA does not guarantee revenue growth, investment, contracts, media coverage, customer acquisition, valuation increase, market entry, or any specific commercial benefit.

6.1 What rights do nominees and winners receive?

Subject to approval, nominees and winners may receive limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable rights to use approved SEBA references, award titles, certificates, trophies, seals, event photographs, official write-ups, and approved marketing materials.

6.2 Can nominees and winners use the SEBA logo?

The SEBA name, logo, emblem, award seal, trophy image, certificate design, theme, artwork, tagline, event identity, and related intellectual property may only be used with prior approval and in accordance with SEBA’s brand guidelines.

6.3 Can the award title be used in advertisements?

Yes, provided the award title is used exactly as approved by SEBA and does not misrepresent the category, year, edition, status, geography, scope, or meaning of the award.

6.4 Can winners use SEBA branding on websites and social media?

Yes, subject to approval and compliance. Winners may use approved SEBA branding on websites, social media, pitch decks, company profiles, email signatures, advertisements, press releases, and marketing materials.

6.5 Can nominees or winners alter SEBA branding?

No. SEBA logos, seals, certificates, trophies, and related marks must not be altered, recolored, distorted, edited, sublicensed, sold, assigned, or used in a manner that damages the SEBA brand.

6.6 Can SEBA use nominee and winner information?

Yes. By participating, nominees and winners grant SEBA, YUM, Xhale Asia, partners, media partners, sponsors, agencies, and authorized representatives the right to use company names, logos, profiles, photographs, videos, interviews, testimonials, award titles, and event footage for publicity, editorial, promotional, archival, sponsorship, commercial, and marketing purposes.

6.7 Can SEBA publish nominee and winner details?

Yes. SEBA may publish nominee, finalist, and winner information on its website, social media, press releases, event materials, videos, magazines, digital platforms, partner channels, and other communication platforms.

7.1 What legal standards apply?

Participation in SEBA is subject to applicable laws, regulations, industry requirements, and legal standards in Malaysia and, where applicable, other ASEAN jurisdictions relevant to the nominee, programme, event, or commercial activity.

7.2 What happens if false information is submitted?

SEBA reserves the right to reject, suspend, withdraw, revoke, or rescind any nomination, finalist status, award title, certificate, trophy, publicity, or brand usage right if any information is found to be false, misleading, incomplete, unethical, unlawful, or damaging to SEBA.

7.3 Can an award be revoked after it is announced?

Yes. SEBA may revoke or rescind an award after announcement if the winner is later found to have breached SEBA rules, submitted false information, acted unethically, violated laws, damaged the SEBA brand, or failed to comply with required obligations.

7.4 Can SEBA publicize revocation decisions?

Yes. SEBA reserves the right to publicize corrections, withdrawals, revocations, clarifications, or rescission decisions where necessary to protect the credibility, integrity, and reputation of SEBA.

7.5 What conduct is expected from nominees and winners?

All nominees and winners are expected to maintain professional conduct, business integrity, ethical standards, respect for the awards process, and compliance with SEBA guidelines before, during, and after the awards programme.

8.1 Must winners attend the awards ceremony?

Winners, recipients, or their representatives may be required to attend the awards ceremony, presentation event, interview session, media activation, or related programme as determined by the Organizers.

8.2 Can another representative receive the award?

Yes, subject to prior approval by the Organizers. The representative must be authorized by the nominee or winning organization.

8.3 Are event seats, tables, or packages included?

This depends on the nomination package, sponsorship package, participation category, or official arrangement confirmed by the Organizers.

8.4 Can event details change?

Yes. SEBA reserves the right to change event dates, venue, format, programme flow, speakers, categories, seating arrangements, presentation order, partners, and related details where necessary.

9.1 Who owns SEBA intellectual property?

All SEBA trademarks, names, logos, award titles, seals, event concepts, category structures, certificates, trophies, design assets, digital assets, copywriting, marketing materials, and related intellectual property remain the property of SEBA, YUM, and/or its authorised rights holders.

9.2 Who owns materials submitted by nominees?

Nominees retain ownership of their submitted company materials, subject to the rights granted to SEBA for review, verification, publicity, marketing, archival, editorial, and awards-related purposes.

9.3 Can confidential information be protected?

SEBA will take reasonable steps to handle submitted information professionally. However, nominees should clearly identify confidential information and avoid submitting highly sensitive materials unless specifically required.

10.1 Is SEBA responsible for nominee business decisions?

No. SEBA, YUM, Xhale Asia, advisors, judges, sponsors, partners, vendors, and representatives shall not be responsible for any business decision, commercial expectation, financial outcome, investment decision, reputational impact, or third-party action arising from participation.

10.2 Can SEBA amend the FAQ or terms?

Yes. SEBA may amend, update, replace, or revise its FAQ, nomination rules, participation guidelines, brand standards, award categories, judging process, commercial terms, and related policies at any time.

10.3 Which version of the terms applies?

The latest version published or issued by SEBA shall apply, unless otherwise expressly stated in writing by the Organizers.

11.1 Who can I contact for nomination enquiries?

For nomination, participation, sponsorship, branding, media, or event enquiries, participants may contact SEBA through the official communication channels published on the SEBA website or issued by the Organizers.

11.2 Where can I find official updates?

Official updates may be published on SEBA’s website, official social media platforms, authorized digital channels, event communications, and direct notices from the Organizers.

This version follows common FAQ best practices used by awards and service platforms: simple question-led headings, clear eligibility guidance, transparent process notes, rights language, and legal disclaimers.

Absolutely! We encourage past winners to showcase their continued growth and achievements. SEBA recognizes ongoing excellence, and you may be eligible to win in a different category that better reflects your current business focus.

SEBA welcomes businesses from a wide range of industries! We recognize excellence across the Southeast Asian landscape.
Explore Your Award Category: To find the most fitting category for your business, please visit the SEBA website here:https://seba.asia/asian-business-awards/. This page provides a detailed list of all available award categories, allowing you to choose the one that best reflects your achievements and industry focus.