Your Time is Now!
Stepping Up, Scaling Up, Soaring Up
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, May 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — An unforgettable evening of celebration, reflection, and recognition unfolded at The BrandLaureate SMEs BestBrands Awards 2025, a prestigious event held at The Majestic Hotel, Kuala Lumpur. The awards honor the remarkable journey of SMEs, from humble beginnings to impactful market leaders, showcasing extraordinary innovation, resilience, and branding excellence.
Stepping Up, Scaling Up, Soaring Up with The BrandLaureate SMEs BestBrands Awards 2025
The BrandLaureate SMEs BestBrands Awards 2025 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia is a highly regarded recognition dedicated to honoring Small and Medium Enterprises that have demonstrated extraordinary innovation, resilience, and branding excellence. SMEs are the cornerstone of economic growth, where they play a critical role in driving innovation, job creation, and sustainable development.
The atmosphere radiated pride, passion, and purpose. It was more than just a night of trophies, it was a celebration of grit, growth, and greatness. What began as dreams for many entrepreneurs has now turned into impactful ventures. Witnessing these visionaries take center stage was a powerful reminder of grit, growth, and greatness.
SMEs serve as the foundation of economic progress, leading the way in innovation, job creation, and long-term growth. Hosting The BrandLaureate SMEs BestBrands Awards in Kuala Lumpur carries both symbolic and strategic value. As one of Southeast Asia’s key business hubs, the city mirrors the entrepreneurial spirit and ambition found across the global SME landscape. For The BrandLaureate, this event goes beyond national borders, it reflects a global commitment to recognizing the outstanding contributions of SMEs from diverse industries and markets. While we proudly celebrate homegrown brands, The BrandLaureate platform also elevates them onto the world stage, acknowledging their potential to influence not just Malaysia’s economic future, but the international business landscape as well.
In his inspiring address, Prof. Dr. KKJohan rallied SMEs to “Step Up, Scale Up, and Soar Up – The Time is Now”, emphasizing the urgency to lead with purpose in an ever-evolving landscape.
He applauded SMEs as the heartbeat of the economy and celebrated their resilience in navigating disruption with innovation.
“Every challenge is a chance, every chance an opportunity—opportunities create champions,” he declared, calling on all brands to rise and lead with courage.
Today marks another historic milestone for The BrandLaureate by proudly honoring Toastmasters International with The BrandLaureatePremier Award 2025 for Leadership in Public Speaking and Leadership Development, in recognition of its 100-year legacy of empowering individuals across more than 140 countries. Toastmasters was also inducted into TheBrandLaureate Book of World Records 2025 with the record title “The World’s Longest-Running Global Movement for Public Speaking and Leadership Development.” In the same spirit of excellence, MsRadhi Spear received The BrandLaureate International Brand Personality Award as a Catalyst for Global Public Speaking & Leadership Development, celebrating her inspiring leadership and global impact in communication.
As the Gala Dinner unfolded, The BrandLaureate SMEs BestBrands Awards 2025 honored exceptional SME brands for their visionary leadership, remarkable achievements, and commitment to excellence. These entrepreneurs have embraced change, demonstrating resilience and innovation that not only propelled their businesses but also inspired others, uplifted communities, and contributed meaningfully to the nation’s economic development.
We extend our heartfelt congratulations to YBhg Dato Sri Mohd Shamil Ngoh Abdullah and YBhg Datin Sri Aishah Chong, Founders of Village Park Restaurant, for winning The BrandLaureate SMEs BrandLeadership Award 2025 in the category of Dynamic Entrepreneurial Couple of the Year – Food & Beverage. Their remarkable journey of partnership, perseverance, and passion has transformed a humble local eatery into a beloved national icon.
We also proudly celebrate the recipients of The BrandLaureate SMEs BrandLeadership Award 2025, Ng Chin Kuong, Eric, Founder, Group Executive Director and Group Chief Executive Officer, ISP Group of Companies; Mustafa Hussain, Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer of MH Global Sdn Bhd; Ustazah Siti Khadijah Binti Mohni, Founder & Chief Executive Officer of Tijarah Hatimurni Sdn Bhd, and The BrandLaureate Brand Personality Award – Sports (Pickleball) to Colin Wong, Professional Pickleball Athlete, these exemplary leaders were honored for their hard work, extraordinary achievements, and visionary leadership.
Celebrating excellent brands with a history of 20 years and beyond, The BrandLaureate SMEs BestBrands Awards 2025 – Inspirational Brand. We congratulate the following recipients: Event Plus (M) Sdn Bhd, awarded in the Creative Event Conceptualization category; Koong Woh Tong, awarded in the F&B – Traditional Wellness & Herbal Remedies category; Lord’s Tailor, awarded in the Fashion – Premium & Bespoke Suits category; MH Global Sdn Bhd, awarded in the Apparel and Premium Gifts Supplier category; Q-dees Worldwide Edusystems (M) Sdn Bhd, awarded in the Preschool Education – Child Empowerment category; Sasaki Industrial Sdn Bhd, awarded in the Industrial Electronic Repairs category; Setia Media Sdn Bhd, awarded in the Digital Billboard & Outdoor Advertising Solutions category; Southernhem Industries Sdn Bhd, awarded in the Water Reticulation Solutions category; SSRV (M) Sdn Bhd, awarded in the Smart Property and Facilities Management category; and Village Park Restaurant, awarded in the F&B – Local Cuisine category.
As the night continued with sparks of inspiration, we celebrated The BrandLaureate SMEs BestBrands Awards 2025 – Sustainable Brands. These recipients were honored for their steadfast dedication to their business growth, and continuous pursuit of innovation all within their first 20 years of establishment. We congratulate Cor Blimey Sdn Bhd, awarded in the F&B – British Cuisine category; DRS Eye Aesthetic Sdn Bhd, awarded in the Eye Aesthetic Innovation category; Gold Billion Pharma Sdn Bhd, awarded in the Healthcare – Innovation in OEM Supplements & Nutrition Solutions category; Tijarah Hatimurni Sdn Bhd, awarded in the Private Islamic Education category; ISP Holding Sdn Bhd, awarded in the Industrial Real Estate Solutions category; Kaysteaklobster Sdn Bhd, awarded in the Premium Halal Steak & Lobster Restaurant category; MIDP Group Sdn Bhd, awarded in the Human Capital Development (Soft Skills) category; MTT Shipping Sdn Bhd, awarded in the Maritime & Port Logistics Solutions category; Platinum Podium Sdn Bhd, awarded in the Marketing Transformation & Growth Solutions category; Soka International School Malaysia, awarded in the Future-Ready Education category; Bartech Empire Sdn Bhd (Bartech Beautee), awarded in the Consumer – Cosmetics category; Mana Mana Suites Sdn Bhd, awarded in the Hospitality Management category; and Dream Confectionaries Sdn Bhd (Chunk and Dunk), awarded in the Most Valuable – F&B & Dining Experience category. These brands’ stories continue to inspire and influence, motivating others to rise with purpose and pride.
At The BrandLaureate, we extend our heartfelt congratulations to all the outstanding recipients of this year’s The BrandLaureate SMEs BestBrands Awards. As we reach this powerful mid-year milestone, the celebration is a testament to how far you’ve come and the limitless potential that lies ahead. May this recognition ignite your unstoppable spirit and inspire you to keep pushing boundaries with innovation, resilience, and purpose. Embrace each moment as a victory, and continue striving toward even greater heights.
As we continue to spotlight SME excellence through The BrandLaureate SMEs BestBrands Awards 2025, we are reminded that branding is more than a logo, it is a legacy we build. The BrandLaureate Award recipients are not just winners of an award, but torchbearers of transformation, inspiring businesses across the globe to dream bigger, act bolder, and build brands that matter.
As The BrandLaureate commemorates 20 incredible years of empowering brands, this event reflects the heart of our mission: that true success is built not only on strategy but on vision, dedication, and unwavering belief. To all SMEs, keep stepping up, scaling up, and soaring up. Now is your time.
For latest news on The BrandLaureate Awards, visit www.thebrandlaureate.com or our social media – Instagram | Facebook | YouTube | LinkedIn | TikTok | Spotify | Whatsapp Channel for updates and all of the evening’s major highlight moments.
If you have a successful story to tell or wish to explore opportunities with us, please connect with us atpr@thebrandlaureate.com.
About The World Brands Foundation (TWBF)
The World Brands Foundation (formerly known as the Asia Pacific Brands Foundation) is a non-profit branding foundation dedicated to promoting the importance of branding on a global scale. Established in 2005, the Foundation is led by World President Professor Dr. KKJohan, alongside a Board of Governors comprising esteemed industry captains and brand icons.
TWBF champions its mission to educate, elevate, and advocate the value of branding, firmly believing that “the brand is the business, and the business is the brand.” This encapsulates the Foundation’s philosophy on the critical role branding plays in today’s highly competitive business environment.
In 2006, TWBF launched The BrandLaureate BestBrands Awards—a prestigious mark of brand excellence that honours outstanding brands across various industries. These award-winning brands are recognized for their strategic brilliance, innovation, and exemplary brand leadership. Following its success, TWBF curated a series of specialized awards, including: The BrandLaureate SMEs BestBrands Awards, The BrandLaureate Brand ICON Leadership Awards, The BrandLaureate World Halal BestBrands Awards, The BrandLaureate DigiTech BestBrands Awards and several others over the years.
To date, over 2,500 brands and more than 500 international brand personalities—including statesmen, Nobel Laureates, corporate leaders, academicians, celebrities, and athletes—have been honoured through The BrandLaureate.
TWBF’s global footprint began expanding in 2017 with the BrandLaureate Special Edition Awards in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, followed by events in Singapore and Hanoi in 2018, and Singapore and Shenzhen, China in 2019. Strengthening its international presence further, 11 country presidents were appointed to represent Australia, Brunei, China, India, Japan, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand, and Vietnam.
In line with its vision to establish a stronger global presence, Singapore was officially named the headquarters of TWBF and The BrandLaureate. The BrandLaureate International Pte Ltd was registered in September 2024, and the inaugural BrandLaureate Brand of the Year Awards Singapore was held on February 25, 2025.
Today, The BrandLaureate BestBrands Awards stands as a beacon of inspiration, motivating brands and individuals to lead with purpose, integrity, and vision. In addition to its awards, TWBF runs corporate education programs including Certification in Brand Management and Brand Leadership to further empower professionals.
With the world’s first Brand Gallery featuring over 400 international brand personalities, TWBF continues to push boundaries, serving as a dynamic global force in branding, and inspiring brands to achieve excellence and distinction on the world stage.