KUALA LUMPUR, Feb. 2 -- When Chinese Muslim entrepreneurs look beyond China's borders, Malaysia often tops the list - not for its market size, but for something far more practical: a shared language, a multicultural society and a business environment they already understand.

Since the Covid-19 pandemic, many of these entrepreneurs have come to see Malaysia not as an end point but as a launchpad - a base to build systems, talent and products before expanding deeper into the region.

For many, Malaysia's population of over 34 million - including some 20 million Muslims and more than six million ethnic Chinese - makes it a natural starting point.

"Chinese Muslims typically speak Mandarin but are generally less proficient in English. This m...