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‘Buy Malaysia’ Drive Helps SMEs To Weather Economic Uncertainty

By Rashidah Abd Rahim, Translated by Rema Nambiar

 

The COVID-19 pandemic’s impact has been putting pressure on small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to sustain their operations amidst the uncertain economic climate.

On June 5, to mitigate the effects of the economic slowdown, Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin unveiled the National Economic Recovery Plan (PENJANA) which focuses on, among others, initiatives to strengthen and expand the implementation of the Buy Malaysian Products Campaign (KBBM) to stimulate and revitalise domestic economic growth through the retail sector with an allocation of RM10 million.

To complement the implementation of KBBM, the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs (KPDNHEP) also simultaneously organised the Malaysia Sales Campaign (KJM) 2020 as one of its comprehensive initiatives to restore and revitalise the nation’s retail sector and fuel domestic demand.

KBBM and KJM 2020 got off the ground in July and will go on until December this year.

BOOST DOMESTIC SALES

Bernama spoke to three entrepreneurs who are participating in KBBM to get their views on the campaign organised by KPDNHEP.

 


Ridzwan Hafidz Rosli. –fotoBERNAMA (2020) ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

 

Ridzwan Hafidz Rosli, 29, whose company Mama G Marketing Sdn Bhd produces a range of bottled spicy sauces under the Mama G brand, hoped that the inclusion of his products in KBBM would help boost domestic sales.

He said the pandemic has not only affected the local market but also foreign markets in Singapore and Brunei where his company has appointed stockists for its products.

“Our sales for this year have been severely affected. Previously, we used to produce 4,000 to 5,000 bottles a month but this year, our sales have dipped drastically.

“Since we couldn’t carry out many promotional activities on the ground due to the pandemic, I hope KBBM will help to drum up domestic sales and make my products more popular in the hot sauce market (segment),” he told Bernama when met at his factory at Melaka Halal Hub in Serkam.

 


The range of spicy sauces produced by Mama G has halal and MeSTI certifications. –fotoBERNAMA (2020) ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

 

Ridzwan Hafidz, who has a degree in marketing from Universiti Teknologi MARA, said through KBBM, he has been able to market his sauces – which he started producing in 2017 – at more than 200 mini markets at Petronas, Petron and Shell petrol stations and several small supermarkets nationwide

He said KPDNHEP also often offers advice to his company on how to add more value to its products so that they meet the ‘Made in Malaysia’ criteria, as well as how to develop the business in terms of its marketing aspect.

Based on KPDNHEP’s advice, he plans to change the glass bottles for the sauces to squeezable plastic bottles that would also facilitate postal delivery.

“We hope to switch to plastic bottles as soon as possible,” Ridzwan Hafidz said, adding that the move would also reduce the risk of breakage during deliveries as well as lower postal costs.

His range of spicy sauces, comprising Cheese Bomb, Black Bomb, Syok Bomb and Salted Egg Bomb, also have halal and MeSTI (Makanan Selamat Tanggungjawab Industri or Food Safety is the Responsibility of the Industry) certifications.

 

ENTREPRENEURSHIP WORKSHOPS

 


Noormala Ismail.

 

Meanwhile, Noormala Ismail, 47, who runs an enterprise that makes and sells frozen local delicacies otak-otak (grilled fish cake flavoured with aromatic herbs) and satar (spicy grilled fish wrapped in banana leaf), said the guidance she received through her participation in various entrepreneurship courses and workshops organised by KPDNHEP since 2015 helped her to develop her business.

Starting her business on a small-scale at her house in 2005, Noormala now has her own premises in Taman Bertam Perdana, near Pulau Gadong here, which is registered under her company Cahaya Mala Enterprise.

“I still attend the workshops and courses organised by KPDNHEP, but for the time being they are not being held due to COVID-19,” she said.

She said she gained a lot from attending the courses as she learned how to promote her products with very little capital and how to face competition in a market that is monopolised by certain companies or brands.

Noormala, who is also often invited to participate in promotional programmes organised by KPDNHEP, said the COVID-19 pandemic, however, has led to a 70 percent drop in the sale of her frozen products which has affected her business operations.

 


Otak-otak is among the frozen delicacies produced by Cahaya Mala Enterprise. –fotoBERNAMA (2020) ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

 

Most of her customers are night market and farmers’ market traders, as well as restaurants that specialise in serving grilled fish and tom yam soup, whose businesses were affected by the Movement Control Order (MCO). The restrictions on holding large functions and weddings have also led to fewer orders for Noormala’s frozen otak-otak and satar.

The mother-of-four said her markets outside Melaka have also been affected by the movement restrictions and these days she depends on customers who come directly to her shop to buy her products.

Noormala is now forced to shift to paid online promotions and is promoting her products on Facebook to ensure her products get sold.

 

KPDNHEP RECOGNITION GIVES PRODUCT AN EDGE OVER OTHERS

 


A staff of Koko Minda Food Industries showing off the Koko Minda Plus product. –fotoBERNAMA (2020) ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

 

Koko Minda Food Industries (M) Sdn Bhd chief executive officer Salim Salleh, 63, said KPDNHEP’s recognition of the company’s food supplement product Koko Minda Plus as a ‘Made in Malaysia’ product helped to strengthen its position and expand its reach in the local market.

He said the recognition, attained in 2012, was an indirect assurance of the safety of the product – introduced in 2009 – which can be consumed by the entire family starting from the age of one.

“Among the conditions to get the ‘Made in Malaysia’ logo is halal certification from Jakim (Department of Islamic Development Malaysia) and MeSTI certification (from the Ministry of Health),” he said.

Salim, who is visually disabled, said the logo was also a value-added feature for Koko Minda Plus as it made it easier for their stockists to promote the product at large supermarket chains nationwide via their temporary booths, as well as through the Malaysia Sales Campaign and KBBM.

 


Workers packing Koko Minda Plus, a locally-produced food supplement. –fotoBERNAMA (2020) ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

 

He said Koko Minda Plus has the potential to be sold on supermarket shelves but before this can happen several improvements have to be made to its packaging.

Koko Minda Plus, which contains extracts of selected herbs and fruits such as pennywort, gingko biloba, raisins, dates and figs, is also available at Family Store outlets and certain kiosks in Mydin supermarkets. It can also be purchased online via the Koko Minda Plus HQ Facebook account, kokomindaplus.hq (Instagram) or www.kokomindafoodindustries.com.my (website).

Salim, who is the founder of Koko Minda Food Industries, has won awards at SME Innovex 2018 in the Best Entrepreneur and Best Overall Entrepreneur categories. He also received the J20 Melaka Muslim Millionaire award in 2017 and the Outstanding Entrepreneur Award for Persons with Disabilities 2016/2017.

 

75 MELAKA ENTREPRENEURS INVOLVED IN KBBM

Melaka KPDNHEP director Norena Jaafar, meanwhile, said 75 entrepreneurs in Melaka are involved in KBBM and KJM and their products include beauty and health products, crafts, batik, food and hydroponic products.

She said roadshows to promote KBBM and KJM are being conducted in stages at various shopping complexes and supermarkets in Melaka. The first roadshow was held on Sept 13 at Megamall in Dataran Pahlawan, followed by NSK supermarket (Sept 25-27) and Tesco Peringgit (Oct 2-4).

Several other roadshows have also been planned for this month and December but the dates have not been finalised yet.

“We’re also promoting KBBM and KJM on Melaka KPDNHEP’s Instagram and Facebook accounts and on Shopee and Lazada, and via announcements on Radio Melaka.fm,” she said, adding that feedback from traders and entrepreneurs showed their sales have increased, particularly in the case of those who are in the food category.

For the record, KBBM is a follow-up to the Buy Malaysian Products campaign that was first launched in 1998. The campaign was rebranded to encourage more consumers to buy ‘Made in Malaysia’ products and to enable local entrepreneurs to cope with the not so favourable economic growth.

It is also aimed at enhancing awareness among the public on the quality of Malaysian-made products and services that are on a par with international standards. — BERNAMA

BacalahMalaysia Team

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