1MALAYSIA A STRONG BRAND TO PROMOTE PRODUCTS ABROAD

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 18 (Bernama) -- The 1Malaysia concept can be a strong
brand to promote local products abroad, said Federal Territories and Urban
Well-being Minister Raja Nong Chik Raja Zainal Abidin.

"1Malaysia is a brand and this cannot be disputed. It reflects the people of
various races living together," he said after launching the 1Malaysia National
Ponggal Festival here Sunday.

He said the 1Malaysia brand was not only suitable for tourism products but
also other products like halal foodstuff.

The brainchild of Prime Minister Najib Razak, he said 1Malaysia
was not only accepted by the people and the public sector but also the corporate
sector in its branding exercise.

Raja Nong Chik said he was proud that the Ponggal festival (a harvest
festival celebrated by Indians across the world in mid January) was
"1Malaysianised".



He said the festival could also be celebrated like other national festivals
like Aidilfitri, Chinese New Year and Deepavali by holding open houses.

"Although farmers in Malaysia are predominantly Malays, the Ponggal festival
is like celebrating padi harvest by Malays," he added.

The main feature of the festival is boiling of milk in a clay pot until it
overflows while family members gather around the pot before rice is added to it.
In Tamil it means the boiling and overflowing of wealth.

-- BERNAMA