KUALA LUMPUR: The Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Ministry has stressed the importance of creating greater awareness for milk consumption and supporting its production in the country.
Its minister Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin said Malaysia’s dairy production sector currently is a minor contributor, with local production of liquid milk covering only about five per cent of domestic needs.
Speaking at the inauguration of Etika Group of Companies’ new dairy production facility, near here, at Meru, he is confident however
that the new facility will inject fresh impetus into the local dairy industry in Malaysia.
Zainudin emphasised that it was critical for private organisations and the government to collaborate and work together to boost the economy.
He said as such Etika’s expansion will help them produce high quality products for both local consumption and help augment their export business, leading to growth of the Malaysian economy and better job opportunities.
“From the visit to Etika’s dairy plant, I have found that there is a lot of work done with local scientists to come up with products that are of high quality for both local and international consumption. The expansion of the plant will not only help in terms of increasing production, but also provides job opportunities to Malaysians,” he said.
Furthermore, he was impressed to note that the majority of employees at the Etika plant were locals and believed that Malaysians indeed can add immense value in contributing to the growth of the nation.
“It is important for corporate sectors and the government to work together to ensure success for the nation,” he added, promising to focus on promoting the benefits of milk consumption and products such as Etika’s Goodday Milk, both domestically and internationally.
Etika Group of Companies have invested over RM100mil to upgrade its dairy plant in Meru.
The company is confident that, with the launch of this new state-of-the-art facility, they will be able to increase their export business from RM300 million to RM500 million in the next three years.
Zainudin also touched on the benefits of milk, especially for children and cited the example of Goodday Milk’s new variants, Honey and Green Tea.
“Milk contains nutrients that are important in the growth of children, enabling them to participate in sports and perform at an international level. With the two new variants, it provides more options to consumers to choose from,” he said.
To further promote the health and wellness of children in Malaysia, Etika has partnered with Angkatan Koperasi Kebangsaan Malaysia Berhad (ANGKASA) to contribute Goodday Milk packets to thousands of school children in the coming weeks.