KUALA LUMPUR:  Deputy Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI) Datuk Fadillah Yusof has urged local businesses to undergo accreditation by Standards Malaysia.

He was speaking to Bernama here today, after witnessing AJA EQS Certification (M) Sdn Bhd's certificate presentation ceremony.

"We want to promote the Malaysian Standard as it is reliable, and although established locally, is recognized worldwide.

"Among other benefits of this accredication is that companies are entitled to a double tax deduction," he added.

Standards Malaysia is the national accreditation body.

AJA EQS Certification is a home grown international certification body and training provider, which certifies organizations, under the Standards Malaysia accreditation.

Fadillah said his ministry had been supporting the local accreditation body's goal in bringing Standards Malaysia to the global arena and its efforts in developing standards according to the relevance of the evolving market.

AJA EQS Certification Group Chief Executive Officer Jacqueline Francis said the company, which currently has overseas operations in India, Brunei, Hong Kong, the United Arab Emirates (Dubai) and Sri Lanka, aims to take its services to European shores.

"With the support of the Malaysia External Trade Development Corp (MATRADE), we hope to set up an office in London by year-end or early next year," she added.

Jacqueline said the international market's acceptance of Standards Malaysia has been good.

Meanwhile, its Group Managing Director Satheesh Karat said the group, which hands out certifications to about 150 companies annually, has been seeing more participation from the public sector of late.

"We have certified four ships under the Royal Malaysian Navy, and two of them have gone for green standards, a first in the world, sparking interest from the Australian navy," he added.


- Bernama