Mohd Sayuthi (centre) officiating the closing ceremony at Kuching Waterfront, accompanied by (from left) Rohaizi, Roziah, Yusnieza and Matthew. — Photo by Roystein Emmor
KUCHING (Sept 7): The Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry (KPDN) Sarawak Zone Carnival, held at the Kuching Waterfront from Sept 5 to 7, attracted an estimated 40,000 visitors throughout its three-day run.
KPDN Secretary-General Datuk Mohd Sayuthi Bakar said the Kuching Waterfront was chosen as the venue to allow the ministry to directly engage with a broad segment of society.
“This location was chosen for its significance as a popular destination frequented by people from all walks of life – young and old, urban and rural – including not only Sarawakians but also visitors from other states,” he said when officiating at the closing ceremony of the KPDN 2025 Carnival Tour and the Buy Malaysian Goods Campaign (KBBM) Sarawak Zone here today.
The Kuching event marked the third leg of the nationwide tour, following stops in Johor Bahru, Johor, and Ranau, Sabah.
Mohd Sayuthi emphasised that the carnival served as a platform for KPDN to connect with the public through its four key responsibilities which are enforcement, strengthening the domestic economy, empowering consumers and addressing the cost of living.
In conjunction with the upcoming Malaysia Day on Sept 16, the carnival also carried the patriotic spirit of the KBBM campaign under the slogan Jom Beli Lokal (Let’s Buy Local).
This edition saw the participation of 52 local entrepreneurs, with total sales surpassing RM500,000.
From 2009 to Aug 31 this year, 8,645 stock keeping units (SKUs) have been certified with the Malaysia Product logo, while 24,443 SKUs have been awarded the Made in Malaysia label.
The carnival also featured the symbolic launch of the JenamaLokal300 Trademark Fee Reduction Package under the “Protect Local Brands, Penetrate Global Markets” campaign.
“Through this initiative by the Intellectual Property Corporation of Malaysia (MyIPO), entrepreneurs are offered a discount of RM300 per application, bringing the cost down to RM650 from the original RM950. This covers trademark protection for 10 years under intellectual property law.
“This package is expected to assist micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in strengthening brand identity while boosting the competitiveness of local products in the international market,” he said.
On a related note, Sayuthi also touched on the government’s MyKasih Sara programme, stressing that the initiative was commendable as it gives recipients the freedom to purchase items according to their needs.
“If it were provided in the form of fixed packages, hampers or a list of essential items, beneficiaries would not have the freedom to choose. Under Sara assistance, there are more than 90,000 SKUs available.”
Also present were Deputy Secretary-General (Domestic Trade Development) Datuk Roziah Abudin; MyIPO Director-General Yusnieza Syarmila Yusoff; KPDN Senior Director of Trade, Distribution and Business Sector Datuk Rohaizi Bahari; KPDN Sarawak director Matthew Dominic Barin and other distinguished guests.
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