Rid Loyalty To Foreign Products, Says Ismail Sabry

April 25, 2009 20:00 PM

Rid Loyalty To Foreign Products, Says Ismail Sabry

KUALA TERENGGANU, April 25 (Bernama) -- Malaysians were today urged to stop being too loyal to foreign goods, but buy local products instead which have found acceptance throughout the world.

Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Datuk Ismail Sabri Yaakob said they should rid of their prejudice against local products as the quality was about the same as foreign goods.

He regretted the preception that imported goods were always better than locally-produced goods as this could cause problems for the country.

"We must get rid of the thinking that we've got more class if we wear imported branded items," he said after launching the trade expo in conjunction with the state-level "Buy Malaysian" campaign at the Terengganu Trade Centre, here, Saturday.

Ismail Sabri said Malaysians must have a nationalistic spirit like the Japanese and Koreans have towards their own products.

He said as Malaysians, they should be proud of local products as many Malaysian-made products had penetrated the international market and gained recognition for their quality.

"In South Korea, it's a shame for the people if one were to own a foreign-made car.

"Japan and the United States have instilled nationalistic values in their people so that they favour local products. This spirit should also be inculcated among Malaysians in support of the 'Buy Malaysian' campaign," he said.

On another development, Ismail Sabri said the government would launch a customer-friendly campaign for traders if there was a need for it.

"There have been complaints about unfriendly traders and we will discuss the matter with the traders associations whether such a campaign is necessary."

On the Buy Malaysian Campaign 2009, he said the campaign would continue nationwide to create public awareness on the importance of buying local products to spur the domestic economy.

The campaign in Terengganu from April 23 to 27 is the eighth in the series which will end in Sarawak in October.

-- BERNAMA