The Putra Brand Awards 2025 drew 160 brands and close to 1,200 attendees. — GLENN GUAN/the Star
KUALA LUMPUR: It was two back-to-back nights of celebrations as Malaysia’s most loved brands received their due recognition at this year’s long-awaited Putra Brand Awards and Putra Aria Brand Awards (Paba).
The ceremonies, held at the Majestic Hotel in Kuala Lumpur on Jan 22 (Paba) and Jan 23, 2026 (Putra Brand Awards), saw a collective total of 350 platinum, gold, silver and bronze awards presented to honour 2025’s best efforts in branding.
“These awards are unique because they are decided not in boardrooms, but by the raykat – people who interact with your brands everyday, and who trust them, rely on them, and invite them into their lives,” said Association of Accredited Advertising Agents Malaysia (4As) president Tan Kien Eng during his speech at the gala evening of the 16th annual Putra Brand Awards.
Organised by the 4As in collaboration with Star Media Group Bhd
as the official media partner, the Putra Brand Awards drew 160 brands and close to 1,200 attendees for its gala night.
Tan said the event was not just a celebration of marketing excellence but of earned trust.
“As an industry, we encourage our members to play a role beyond creativity and effectiveness – to shape narratives, influence culture and reflect the aspirations of our society.
“At the 4As, we believe great creativity must also be responsible work that inspires, uplifts, and is inclusive and purposeful.”
Datuk Johnny Mun, 4As Malaysia senior adviser and Putra Brand Awards organising chairman, said the awards serve to empower consumers by allowing them to pick the brands closest to their hearts.
“Staying relevant with your consumers is a cardinal rule of thumb that should never be flouted,” he said.
“Winning consumers’ hearts is a journey and as with any journey, the ups and downs are part of the trek that makes eventual success meaningful and sweet.”
Often known as the people’s choice awards, the annual ceremonies recognise brands that have excelled in building trust and loyalty from Malaysian consumers.
Winners were decided by the public through a comprehensive survey study involving over 51,000 respondents across the nation.
The awards are endorsed by the Malaysia External Trade Development Corp (Matrade) as the brand champion partner, and supported by the Malaysian Advertisers Association, Media Specialists Association, Malaysian Digital Association and Outdoor Advertising Association of Malaysia.
In his speech, Matrade chief executive officer Abu Bakar Yusof reaffirmed the agency’s support for the awards in honouring brands that earn their place in the hearts and minds of consumers.
“Branding is not something that can be bought or manufactured overnight. Genuine brand value is built through consistency, credibility and trust,” he said.
“We firmly believe that strong brands are critical drivers of business growth and national competitiveness. Brands are not merely names or logos, they embody a company’s values, promise and aspiration.”
The awards were presented across 24 categories, featuring a diverse range of sectors such as apparel, food, automotive, education, property, entertainment and personal care.
A highlight of the awards was the announcement of this year’s special award winners.
The accolade of Putra Brand of the Year went to Unifi, while Petroliam Nasional Bhd (PETRONAS) walked away with the Putra Most Enterprising Brand of the Year award. Meanwhile, the McDonalds marketing team was crowned Putra Malaysian Marketer of the Year.
Datuk Lawrence Liew and Datin Nancy Liew, the founders of Marrybrown, took home the honour of Putra Personality of the Year.
The event also saw Uniqlo and Watsons added to the prestigious roster of Putra Brand Icons, the title reserved for iconic brands that have won top Putra Brand awards for four consecutive years
“Winning the Putra Brand award is truly a great honour, and a testament to what we’ve always wanted to do, which is making our customers’ lives simpler and better,” said Petronas Dagangan Bhd (PetDag) managing director and chief executive officer Azrul Osman Rani.
“At PetDag, we are very customer focused.
“We listen to their concerns and wants, taking care of them, and they have been really great to us” he added.
Commenting on Unifi’s achievement, Telekom Malaysia Bhd’s chief business and consumer officer Anand Vijayan said:
“Unifi has always been a customer-first brand, and we’ve been serving the consumers of this country for many years. Them voting for us really means a lot because it proves we have gained and continue to have their trust.”
Watsons Malaysia managing director and AS Watson Group Health and Beauty Asia chief operating officer Caryn Loh said the award was a “true recognition from Malaysians”.
“We will continue to do our best in giving better customer experience and innovating in all areas including product innovation and services for our customers,” she said.
