TOUCH n Go e-Wallet clinched the coveted Putra Brand of the Year Award 2023, while Spritzer’s Datuk Lim Kok Boon was conferred the title of Putra Brand Personality Award during the gala night event on Jan 19.
The Putra Brand Awards (PBA) 2023 is the premier brand award in Malaysia and represents an honour that “money-cannot-buy” and awards its winners through public votes based on their favourite brands in the local market.
Held at the One World Hotel, Petaling Jaya, it saw a bevy of well-known brands in the country, and the companies behind them that have made them successful.
Winning the Putra Enterprising Brand of the Year was Sunway University, while the Putra Marketing Team of the Year award went to the Watsons Marketing Team.
Touch n Go e-Wallet financial services head Desmond Teoh (third from left) and team with the Putra Brand of the Year award, together with 4As Malaysia acting president/vice president Ryusuke Oda (left), Star Media Group chief executive officer Alex Yeow (fourth from left) and awards organising chairman Datuk Johnny Mun (right).
Inducted into the Putra Awards Hall of Fame was Golden Screen Cinemas, alongside past notable brands that were similarly honoured for having won in their respective categories for over 10 successive years.
The Star snagged the gold award in the media and networks category, with Star Media Group chief content officer Datin Paduka Esther Ng accepting the award.
Commenting on the gala night’s event theme “Transform - Lead the Change”, Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (Matrade) chief executive officer Datuk Mohd Mustafa Abdul Aziz said, “These words encapsulate the very spirit of the Putra Brand Awards by embodying the dynamism and adaptability inherent in the DNA of successful brands.”
He added that it is a poignant reminder that transformation is not just an option, but a necessity for brands to not just survive, but to truly thrive.
This year did not list any Putra Brand Icon winners as the brands that qualify were past recipients of the same award.
Platinum category winners include Uniqlo in Apparel and Accessories; Toyota in Automotive; PETRONAS in Automotive – Fuel, Lubricants and Accessories; Ambi Pur in Household Products; Nippon Paint in Home Improvement Products and Stores; Samsung in Cameras, IT and Office and Business Equipment; Calsberg in Beverage – Alcoholic; Milo in Beverage – Non-alcoholic; Golden Screen Cinemas in Entertainment; Panasonic in Personal, Household and Outdoor Appliances; Samsung in Communication Devices; Telekom Malaysia in Communications Networks; Multimedia University in Education and Learning; Vaselin in Personal Care; Sime Darby Property in Property; Watson’s in Retail; Maybank in Banking, Investment and Insurance; Gardenia in Foodstuff; McDonald’s in Restaurants and Fast Food Outlets; AirAsia in Transportation, Travel and Tourism; and Touch n Go e-Wallet in e-Commerce.
Putra Brand Awards was endorsed by Matrade as the Brand Champion Partner and supported by the Malaysian Advertisers Association, Media Specialists Association and Malaysian Digital Association.
More photos
It was a grand affair at the Putra Brand Awards 2023 at One World Hotel. —Photos: IZZRAFIQ ALIAS, ART CHEN, AZMAN GHANI and GLENN GUAN/The Star
The team from Golden Screen Cinemas, which was inducted into the Putra Awards Hall of Fame, led by CEO Koh Mei Lee (middle in burgundy dress).
A crowd attraction, the Little Chick mascot of The Chicken Rice Shop garnered lots of photo opportunities.
The AirAsia team memorialising the Putra Brand Awards 2023 moment. The brand won platinum in the Transportation, Travel and Tourism category.
Watsons marketing and customer growth general manager Danny Hoh (holding award, in blue suit) and his team took home the Putra Brand Marketer of the Year award.
Ryusuke (left) and previous 4As president Andrew Lee having a short discussion before the event kicked off.
Sunway Education Group branding and communications director Patrick McVeigh (middle) with (from left) Ryusuke, Mun, Sunway University provost Prof Dr Abhi Veerakumarasivam and 4As honorary life president Tan Sri Vincent Lee.
(From left) Spritzer R&D director Dr Chuah Chaw Teo with Yeow and Datuk Mohd Mustafa. Dr Chuah accepted the Putra Brand Personality Award on behalf of the company’s founder and managing director Datuk Lim Kok Boon, who was unable to attend, as well as a gold award in the Beverage – Non-alcoholic category.
