PUTRAJAYA: Entrepreneurs who wisely make use of technology will be able to meet the demands of a changing world, said Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong.

The Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department said every profession could be mastered, adding that even declining businesses could be revived “as long as you are willing to work”, are open to innovation and are creative.

Take dhobi services as an example, he told guests at the launch of the 3rd Malaysia Golden Entrepreneur Awards yesterday.

He said this traditional industry had been successfully transformed using technology and now there were self-service laundry chains everywhere, with their automatic machines.

To encourage this new economic model of innovation, Dr Wee said the Government had started a series of initiatives, such as the MyCreative programme, to help local companies transform themselves or venture into innovative fields.

On a separate matter, the public sector must give priority to local products because the Government wants to promote Malaysian goods and services, Dr Wee said, adding that an instruction had been issued by the Finance Ministry on this.

“We must give local products a chance whenever the quality is on par or better than that of imported ones,” said the minister who oversees small and medium enterprises in the country.

Apart from marketing and branding, he pointed out, quality control was equally important to ensure Made-in-Malaysia products maintain a reputation for high quality and competitiveness in the international market.

The awards are one of the most prestigious in the country and recognise the top entrepreneurs in their fields, while enabling them to share their success stories and experience with others.

It is organised by the Federation of Malaysia Chinese Guilds Association (Hang Zong).

The Star is its media partner.

Hang Zong president Datuk Chai Kim Sen noted that branding was very important to enhance the value of products.

A new category – the Malaysian Brand Award – was added this year to promote branding and to celebrate the success of leading international and local brands.

The awards are open to entrepreneurs in all industries in the country. For details, visit www.hangzong.org.

Dr Wee, who is also MCA deputy president, opened a new hall earlier at the Wong Loo Sen See Chee Choong Temple in Cheras, in conjunction with its 56th anniversary.

The temple had been built with a RM70,000 allocation from then Deputy Prime Minister Tun Abdul Razak Hussein, the father of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

He said that amount was the equivalent of “a few million now” and the aid showed that the country’s leaders had adopted moderation as a fundamental tool for shaping the nation’s future.

Dr Wee also said the temple – located near the Maluri LRT station in Cheras – runs a voluntary clinic that serves all races.

-The STAR-