Buy Malaysia Products Campaign Helps Traders

April 30, 2009 14:49 PM

Buy Malaysia Products Campaign Helps Traders

KUALA TERENGGANU, April 30 (Bernama) -- For entrepreneurs and traders of small medium enterprises (SMEs), the Buy Malaysian Campaign 2009 which took place here recently, provided an opportunity for them to introduce their respective products.

Generally, the campaign brought many new changes; in particular, encouraging consumers to buy local products, whose quality matched that of overseas brands.

Apart from hoping to dispel consumer prejudice towards local products, the campaign among others, is also aimed at boosting the local economy.

All the entrepreneurs met during the campaign, which ended on April 27, welcomed it, and hoped it could be held from time to time to enable consumers to better view local products, which are also priced more cheaply.

The five-day campaign from April 23 saw 109 booths selling various products including foodstuff, health products, clothes and stationery.

Global Factor Sdn Bhd director Nor'aini Rusmin said through the campaign, she was not only able to introduce her products but also save on costs from the aspect of advertising.

"We cannot aford to take out big advertisments and an expo such as this, helps introduce our products," she said of her company which produces stationery under the brand, Kedidi.

Nor'Aini, who runs the business with her husband Ab Razak Azhari, said they established a factory 13 years ago to produce their products.

She said the idea of opening the stationery company started when her husband realised that there were no Bumiputera traders as yet in this line of business.

She said the factory produces various products such as markers, pens, and files and these were sold by the company itself while being also distributed to suppliers.

"We began the business in Selangor. Then, we purchased about a hectare of land at Kampong Soi in Kuantan and built the factory. We have been there ever since," she explained.

According to Nor'Aini, her company frequently participates in expos held throughout the country if invited, such as at the Amanah Saham Week in Johor recently.

The public who came for the expo in Terengganu was attracted to the health products such as the first herbal health mattress in the world, produced by a local entrepreneur.

Durjaa Health Care manager, S.Siva, said his company based in Selama, Perak began producing the herbal mattress two years ago.

He said what is interesting about the mattress is that, it is made from noni, inai, betel leaves, pandan and senduduk, which helps overcome stress, internal body aches, back pain and such.

"Sleep is a time of rest and very important for a human being. So, using the herbal mattress, helps overcome the feeling of discomfort and restores a weak body to health," he said.

He said the expo had helped introduce his company's product to the people of Terengganu and the east coast in general.

"The people of Terengganu and Kelantan had previously known about the herbal mattress. So, with this expo, they were able to get to know the product better. Many visited our booth from the time we opened," he said.

Siva said his company had no branch here but those who wished to place an order for the herbal mattress can do so by contacting 016-5160400 or 1-800-88-5858.

ABB Jaya Enterprise, a company manufacturing various types of clothing and t-shirts, also participated in the programme here. The company expressed satisfaction with the response of the people towards its products.

ABB Jaya Enterprise manager, Anuar Bidin said the company was based in Taman Safiah Murni, Bukit Payong, Marang. It had a sales centre in Simpang Tok Ku here and in Kampung Durian Penjara, Marang.

He said the company, which started operations eight years ago, was prepared to receive orders for stitching and embroidery as well as fabric based products.

Anuar said that the expo held was very good as it exposed his products, which previously were not that well, known by the public.

"I am happy that the people were interested in the embroidery exhibition staged by us while viewing the corporate attire on display," he said.

Meanwhile, the director of the Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry, Terengganu, Mohd Hilmi Mohd Noor said the response to the expo was very encouraging.

"We only provided for 100 booths in the beginning, but with the good response from entrepreneurs and retailers, we increased it to 109," he said.

He also stated that the participants at the expo were not just from Terengganu but also all over the country, with no fee being imposed.

About 50,000 people thronged the expo throughout the five days it was staged and the sale of products displayed was also encouraging.

The Buy Malaysia Campaign should therefore not be ended as it is hoped that consumers would purchase local products.

While encouraging the consumers, the government should also try and find a way to enhance the patriotic spirit among entrepreneurs.

Awareness, as to the importance of the Buy Malaysia campaign, should be inculcated in them.

Don't allow consumers who have spiritedly embraced the government's call, to become victims of entrepreneurs in search of profits, by any means.

-- BERNAMA