By NG CHENG YEE
THE furniture industry has improved compared with 20 years ago. This is due to the demand from overseas market and the higher living standards of

Malaysians, says International Trade and Industry Ministry parliamentary secretary Datin Paduka Dr Tan Yee Kew.  

She said positive market demand had encouraged local manufacturers to raise their scale of production and that there were currently about 2,300 furniture manufacturers in Malaysia. 

“About 90% of them are small- and medium-scaled enterprises,” she said at the second annual dinner of the Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Furniture Entrepreneur Association in Kuala Lumpur recently.   Dr Tan said the main focus of the industry was on its overseas market as 90% of its goods were exported.  

“This stood at RM7.49bil last year.”  

In order to ensure continuous growth, Deputy Home Minister Datuk Tan Chai Ho said industry players should meet the needs of international market.  

“They should also make plans to penetrate the medium and high-end markets.”