SALES FIGURES FOR DIRECT SELLING COMPANIES ROSE BY 19.5 PCT IN 2020 - ROSOL

KUALA LUMPUR, May 28 (Bernama) -- The latest sales statistics for direct selling companies by the Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry (KPDNHEP) indicated a 19.5 per cent rise to RM25.7 billion in 2020 compared to RM21.5 billion in 2019.

Deputy Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Datuk Rosol Wahid said the rise proved that the direct selling industry was still capable of recording excellent growth despite the COVID-19 pandemic.

Malaysia was seventh on global rankings and fourth in the Asia Pacific region in terms of sales according to the 2020 Global Direct Selling Retail Sales Report issued by the World Federation of Direct Selling Associations (WFDSA).

“There are two non-governmental organisations (NGO) that lead direct selling development in Malaysia, the Direct Selling Association of Malaysia (DSAM) and the Malaysian Direct Distribution Association (MDDA), which are actively involved in engagement with the ministry to resolve development  issues for the direct selling industry in Malaysia, in addition to expanding the industry’s potential as a main contributor to the country’s socioeconomic development,” he said in his speech during the Malaysia Direct Selling Industry Day Programme ceremony and Direct Selling Industry Roadmap at Berjaya Times Square today.

The roadmap is the ministry’s blueprint on the future direction of the industry and was created in the interests of all parties involved in the industry to create a more conducive and dynamic business ecosystem that can develop not only domestically but globally, he said.

Rosol said perceptions that direct selling companies were promoting pyramid schemes or get-rich-quick schemes needed to be changed, and the ministry would continue efforts to increase the number of direct selling companies with valid licences.

The ministry would enhance various initiatives by providing awareness about the potential of direct selling as a source of income and economic generator and arrange strategies to implement a more holistic development for the industry.

He added that the Malaysian Direct Selling Industry Day Programme was a new initiative to expand the industry and to provide wide coverage about legal direct selling activities in the country.

The programme involved 22 direct selling companies from DSAM and MDDA that are promoting potential business opportunities to the public.

-- BERNAMA