KUALA LUMPUR (Nov 12): The Ministry of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs (KPDNHEP) has no objection to the proposal to introduce a new marketplace for local products in general, and particularly for Malaysian-made products.

Nevertheless, its Deputy Minister Chong Chieng Jen said the safety issues and labelling for the products that are used and consumed needed to be given priority to guarantee the safety of consumers.

“The ministry also organises overseas trade missions strategically together with foreign hypermarkets in Malaysia in order to introduce and promote the Buy Malaysian Products campaign through Malaysia Goes Global/Taste of Malaysia campaigns especially in Sarajevo (Bosnia and Herzegovina), Shanghai (China) and Dubai (United Arab Emirates),” he said during the oral question-and-answer session in the Dewan Rakyat today.

He said he was optimistic the strategic missions were able to open up market opportunities for potential and quality local products.

Chong was replying to a question from Datuk Shabudin Yahaya (PH-Tasek Gelugor) who wanted to know if the ministry planned to introduce an online sales platform or mobile application such as Lazada or Shopee that focuses only on products by local entrepreneurs or small and medium enterprises to provide room for their products to penetrate the global market more systematically.

He said the ministry would also capitalise on the advantages of the digital economy ecosystem and e-commerce infrastructure in the country through the implementation of various initiatives such as campaigns, promotions and sales discounts continuously via the major online marketplace portals in Malaysia that have high traffic.

“The ministry’s cooperation with Shopee, for example, has recorded increased sales of 100 per cent, as well as a growth in bookings of 132 per cent for Malaysian-made products comprising some 3,500 products from local entrepreneurs.

“Besides that, the ministry also collaborates with airline company AirAsia to promote local products in its aircraft through the in-flight menu, catalogue and AirAsia marketplace, namely OurShop, and also ROKKI.com,” he said.