Kuala Lumpur, 25 March 2013 –  Y. Bhg. Datuk Ir. (Dr.) Mohamed Al Amin Abdul Majid, Chairman of SME Corp. Malaysia, today officially launched a new website that is dedicated to providing information and updates on the National Mark of Malaysian Brand certification scheme.

The website, www.nationalmark.gov.my, will carry information on the scheme including benefits of certification, the participation criteria and the evaluation and audit processes. The site will also list the successful brands that have been awarded the rights to use the National Mark of Malaysian Brand on their product packaging and in their marketing communications. Companies interested in participating in the scheme can conveniently download the application forms from the site.

In his address, Datuk Ir. (Dr.) Mohamed Al Amin Abdul Majid said that this new website is an effort to educate the SMEs and consumers about the mark and what it stands for. “The main objective of the National Mark of Malaysian Brand is to promote an international level of quality standards for Malaysian products and services. It is hoped that with this mark, Malaysian brands can gain a footing in local and global markets. This is why it is important that the mark be easily recognised as a symbol of Quality, Excellence and Distinction both locally and abroad”, he said.

“This website not only offers information about the programme, but also highlights the mark recipients in order to create awareness of their status as proud Malaysian brands endorsed by the government. We hope that more Malaysian brand owners will realise the benefits of this scheme and the assistance provided by the government in developing their brands. I encourage SMEs to embark on the process of certification”.

Also launched during the event was the “Why I Choose Malaysian Quality” video contest. This online contest that offers a grand prize of RM10,000 requires participants to submit short videos that creatively depict their reasons for choosing brands that carry the National Mark of Malaysian Brand. The short 15 to 20 seconds videos can be uploaded via Facebook and must accumulate “likes” in order to win. The winning entries will be judged by a panel who will award 70% of the total points for each entry while the remaining 30% of the points will be based on the number of “likes” the entry gets on Facebook.

The video contest is open to all Malaysians and will run from today until its closing date on the 14th of June 2013. Other than the RM10,000 cash grand prize, contestants also stand to win iPad from SME Corp. Malaysia. To know more about the contest, log on to www.nationalmark.gov.my

The contest is part of a larger campaign to promote awareness of the National Mark of Malaysian Brand. The campaign will include a variety of print and online media campaign, and is designed to reach out to Malaysians of all walks of life.

The launch of the new website and video contest today, coincided with the SME Networking Session 2013. Held at the Kuala Lumpur Tower, the session was aptly titled ‘Meet in the Sky’.

The annual event is organised to provide the opportunity for SMEs that have been awarded the National Mark of Malaysian Brand to network amongst each other and to meet with other organisations including GLCs, Ministries and Agencies. “This networking session aims to provide MAlaysian Brand recipients with exposure to relevant or related industries, also to help the Ministries, Agencies, GLCs as well as representatives from the private sector to learn more about products and services offered by those companies”, said Datuk Ir. (Dr.) Mohamed Al Amin Abdul Majid.

This is the second year the event was organised by SME Corp. Malaysia. It was attended by about 100 representatives from various companies and government agencies.

“We have received very positive response from SMEs who attended this and last year’s networking sessions”, said CEO of SME Corp. Malaysia, Y. Bhg. Dato’ Hafsah Hashim. She said that the objective of the event was to foster a closer working relationship between SME Corp. Malaysia and the SMEs, as well as with other government agencies. To achieve this, we must have open forums that allow feedback and candid discussion in a casual and relaxed environment. “We have changed the venues to make the sessions more interesting and meaningful for the attendees. So far, we have found the networking sessions to be of benefit not just to the SMEs, but also to the government officers attending.”

Last year’s session was held at Putrajaya and was attended by more than 80 representatives from SMEs and government officers representing various agencies.

For more information please contact Mr. Faiz R Sutarji at 03-2775 6014 or email – faizramzi@smecorp.gov.my ,
Ms. Maslinda Zulkifly at 03-2775 6181 or email – maslinda@smecorp.gov.my.

PERBADANAN PERUSAHAAN KECIL DAN SEDERHANA MALAYSIA (SME CORP. MALAYSIA)
Level 6, SME 1, Block B, Platinum Sentral,
Jalan Stesen Sentral 2, Kuala Lumpur Sentral,
50470 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Telephone: 603-2775 6000
Fax: 603-2775 6001