Malaysian-made products and brands extend beyond the ordinary key-chain or décor item one would take home as a holiday memento. Here are some recognised made-in-Malaysia names and brands.

The Malaysian entrepreneurial spirit has generated many homegrown brands that are not only household names, but have achieved international renown for their impeccable quality. These are brands and products that characterise Malaysian innovativeness and creativity.

Boh Tea

Boh Plantations is acknowledged as Southeast Asia’s pioneer tea cultivator. It is a modern, dynamic and progressive tea company with an innovative range of quality teas appreciated around the world. Malaysians drink more Boh tea than any other, and there is an increasing demand for Boh in Japan and the United States as well.

Boh’s roots are deeply embedded in Malaysia. John Archibald Russell, the son of a British government official, established Boh Plantations in 1929. According to the company’s website (http://boh.com.my/), Russell saw the potential of tea as an important crop in then Malaya, which was known more for rubber and tin at the time.

Boh’s tea gardens are located on Cameron Highlands, which is a popular tourist destination for its cool weather.

Lewre

Lewre is synonymous with contemporary trend-setting footwear. Launched in 1997, the brand is well known for its attractive designs and materials. From just manufacturing footwear, it is now an established design and development company. Lewre has also expanded from being a small local player to a big-time global corporation.

Malaysia Airlines (MAS)

MAS ’ humble origins began in the golden age of travel in the late 1930s when a joint initiative led to a proposal to the government of the colonial Straits Settlement to run an air service between Penang and Singapore. On April 2, 1947, the first fare paying passengers boarded an Airspeed Consul plane from Singapore to Kuala Lumpur. Today the award-winning airline has a fleet of 100 aircraft in its network and travels to more than 100 destinations across six continents.

Multimedia Super Corridor (MSC)

The MSC was initiated by former Prime Minister Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad as part of Malaysia’s Vision 2020 (also envisioned by him) to become a fully developed nation and knowledge-rich society by the year 2020. Malaysia embarked on a plan to leapfrog into the information age by providing intellectual and strategic leadership, and by investing in an environment that encourages creativity and innovation. The government appointed an International Advisory Panel (IAP) made up of leading industry figures, academicians and top members of international think tanks from around the globe to provide advice and direction.

This multimedia utopia is an integrated environment for business and activities specialising in ICT and multimedia technologies. Confined within a 15x50 km corridor, the MSC is governed by special cyber laws, policies and practices. MSC-status companies are also privy to world-class physical infrastructures as well as super-fast connection networks, among others.

Perusahaan Otomobil Nasional (Proton)

The national car project has come a long way since it rolled out the first-ever Malaysian-made model, the Proton Saga, in early 1980s. Over the years, its acquisition of British motoring engineering company Lotus has strengthened its research and development capability. The company began a new chapter with the launch of Gen 2, a first in a new generation of Proton cars fully-developed by the national carmaker.