49 Malaysian franchisers in 51 countries

1,494 outlets have opened abroad

KUALA LUMPUR: Forty-nine Malaysian franchisers succeeded in expanding their businesses to 51 countries with a total of 1,494 outlets being opened.

Deputy Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Minister Datuk Ahmad Bashah Md Hanipah said that the 10 local franchisers with the most number of outlets abroad were Nelson (675 outlets), Daily Fresh (481), Mary Brown (58), Bangi Kopitiam (29), Secret Recipe (25), England Optical (21), Old Town White Coffee (21), World Of Fengshui (17), Smart Readers (15) and Royal Selangor Pewter (14).

“Although the franchise industry has existed in the country only since 19 years ago, it has been capable of achieving impressive success,” he told Senator Ahamat @ Ahamad Yusop in Dewan Negara yesterday.

On the foreign franchise brands which were registered and carrying out business in this country, Ahmad Bashah said that up to July 10 the number was 128.

“The 10 top foreign franchising companies carrying out business in Malaysia are 7-Eleven, McDonalds, Kentucky Fried Chicken, Kumon learning centres and kindergartens, Avon, Yamaha Music, Kenny Rogers Roasters, Tutti Fruity, Subway and Body Shop,” he said.

On another matter, the Dewan Negara was told that the households in the country kept 2.1 million kg of recyclable but unused items languishing at home.

“The recyclable items which were kept by housewives included the washing machine bought by their husband when they got married.

“Although they have bought a new washing machine, the old, disused machine is still kept

Although the franchise industry has existed in the country only since 19 years ago, it has been capable of achieving impressive success. — DATUK AHMAD BASHAH MD HANIPAH

at the back of the house,” said Urban Wellbeing, Housing and Local Government Deputy Minister Datuk Halimah Mohd Sadique.

She added that on the average, each Malaysian kept about 0.07kg of recyclable items per day.

“If recycling was done, each family or each person would produce 21.69kg or 0.76kg of recycled materials respectively per day.”

Halimah said this in reply to Senator Rohani Abdullah, who had asked about the effectiveness of the “entry point” project in boosting the 3R (reduce, reuse and recycle) programme and raising the recycling rate to 40%, that was, at the increment of 3% each year.

Halimah said that a solid waste composition study undertaken by the ministry in 2012 found that the recycling rate among households had risen from 5% in 2005 to 9.7% in 2011.

She said that the ministry was confident that the targeted rate of 22% by 2020 could be met. — Bernama