To reach a wider market, Chinese new village entrepreneurs should form a cooperative to improve the sales and distribution of their products, says Kinrara assemblyman Ng Sze Han.
He said the entrepreneurs would remain their own bosses, but unified under a common brand.
“The brand could even be called ‘New Village Goodies’ and under this brand, there could be many different products and sub-brands,” he said when 29 finalists for the 2026 Malaysia New Village Best Products (Kampung Good) competition were announced at Dasein Academy Of Art in Kuala Lumpur.
“It would allow one brand to carry a wide range of products.
“The packaging could also be standardised, turning the products into a series under one company or collective brand.”
Ng, who is also Selangor investment, trade and mobility committee chairman, said coming under one umbrella would make it easier for entrepreneurs to approach speciality stores and appoint a master distributor.
“If a shop owner has to meet 30 to 40 entrepreneurs, he would spend the whole day meeting suppliers instead of running his business.”
The Kampung Good competition started in 2021 when the state government looked for ways to promote products from this sector.
It was launched during the Covid-19 pandemic when many people, after losing their jobs, returned to their hometowns.
Some helped their parents or grandparents sell traditional food and inadvertently played a part in their preservation.
“Looking at the products on display, I am seeing a tremendous improvement in packaging and presentation compared to previous years.
“With this level of maturity, these entrepreneurs are ready to expand beyond their villages and break into international markets.”
Organised by Kampung-ing (Xin Cun-ing), a non-governmental organisation, the competition is now in its fifth year and made possible with grants from the Housing and Local Government Ministry.
Among the entries this year are deep-fried fish maw from Mersing Kecil, mulberry jam from Batang Berjuntai and a spicy-sour dipping sauce from Seri Kembangan.
Business owner Queenie Law said her fish maw was a seasonal Chinese New Year product, carrying on her late father’s dried seafood business.
Mulberry jam producer Amy Liew said she had 500 bushes on her farm and entered her mulberry leaf tea in the competition last year.
Rainbow Chew said she started a walnut cookie business 20 years ago before venturing into making dipping sauce 10 years back.
Project manager Seaw Yian Yi said 62 people signed up for the competition after hearing about it from their village heads and via social media.
“To be eligible, their products must have a shelf life of more than seven days and originate from a Chinese new village.
“They must produce their utility bills as proof and be endorsed by their respective village heads,” said Seaw.
Aside from receiving mentorship, participants must launch a campaign to gauge market demand for their products.
The winners receive RM38,000 worth of prizes to help their products enter the market.
The grand final is in September.
