KUALA LUMPUR: The BrandLaureate SMEs BestBrands Awards 2011 has named Takaful Ikhlas the Brand of the Year, while its medical insurance, IMAT, won for Product Branding, Best Brands in Medical Plan.

Takaful Ikhlas president/chief executive officer, Datuk Syed Moheeb Syed Kamarulzaman, won The BrandLaureate SMEs CEO of the Year Award 2011.

In a statement today, The BrandLaureate said apart from the corporate and product branding awards categories, top Malaysian personalities and corporate captains were honoured with The BrandLaureate Brand Personalities Awards.

It said Datuk Ramly Mokni, founder/chairman of Ramly Food Processing was conferred The BrandLaureate Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad SMEs Man of the Year.

Datuk Jalilah Baba, former director-general of the Malaysian Investment Development Authority and now chairman of PKT Logistics Group Sdn Bhd, was conferred The BrandLaureate – Tun Dr Siti Hasmah SMEs Woman of the Year Award 2011.

Datuk Michael Tio of PKT Logistics won The BrandLaureate SMEs Entrepreneur of the Year Award.

The BrandLaureate BestBrands Awards 2011, organised by the Asia-Pacific Brands Foundation (APBF), aims to honour the best brands from the small and medium enterprises (SMEs).

APBF, the world’s only branding foundation, was set up in 2004 with the aim of increasing the level of branding awareness in Malaysia and Asia-Pacific.

Its president, Datuk K.K. Johan, urged SMEs not to rest on their laurels.

“In the 21st century, our vision is none other than to become global champions and we must strive for this position.

“If you do not make this leap, you will forever be a ‘jaguh kampung’ or local champion. SMEs, it is high time to take your brand to the next great level and beyond,” he said.

He said for brands to be successful, they must be supported by four fundamentals of branding that consisted of the 4S – structure, strategy, synergy and strength.