Press Release for 30th Anniversary Dinner
Pelangi Publishing Group Bhd. which has an excellent track record in the publication of books for the past 30 years is holding a grand anniversary dinner at First World Hotel, Genting Highlands, on Saturday evening, 27 June 2009.
The guest of honour for the evening will be Y. Bhg. Dato’ Hajah Noor Rezan bt. Bapoo Hashim, the Deputy Director General of Education (Educational Operation Section), Datin Asariah bt. Mior Shararudin, the Deputy Director General of the Ministry of Education of Malaysia (the official representative of the Deputy Minister of Education) .
The gala dinner will also be graced with the presence of the conglomerate’s close associates and devoted employees.
Pelangi Publishing Group Bhd., on this special occasion, would like to express its heartfelt gratitude to all its associates and staff as well as the Ministry of Education for their unwavering support over the years.
HISTORY
The company was found in 1980 under the name Pelangi Educational Enterprise. In 1982 it was renamed Penerbitan Pelangi Sdn. Bhd. and formally carried the brand name Pelangi Publishing. The name was derived from its place of origin in Taman Pelangi, Johor Bahru.
The founders were Mr. Sum Kown Cheek and Mr. Yap Chong Koy. They both were former teachers who saw the potential demand for locally written revision books in the national language as, at that time, there were only a handful of such books available in the market when the Cambridge examination system was replaced by the local examination system and the medium of instruction changed from English to Bahasa Malaysia.
The partners’ initial goal was to assist students in their effort to prepare themselves for the new examination system. Their first publications were translations of past-year examination papers with suggested model answers for core subjects such as mathematics and science. From its initial involvement in editing and illustration to its distinguished publishing, printing and distribution services at the present time, Pelangi Publishing Group Bhd. has become a full-fledged publisher which dedicates itself to the betterment of our country’s quality of education. Its listing on Bursa Malaysia is a further testimony to its successes as a multi-million ringgit corporation.
ACHIEVEMENTS
Pelangi Publishing Group Bhd. was the recipient of the prestigious Enterprise 50 Awards organized by MITI in collaboration with Accenture and Business Times. In 2000, Pelangi Publishing Group Bhd. was placed 12th, in 2001, it took the 6th placing and in 2002, it was placed 8th in the awards ranking. In the same year, the company became the first publisher in Malaysia to be awarded three ISO 9002 certifications simultaneously. The three certifications were DSM (Malaysia), UKAS (United Kingdom) and COFRAC (France).
In 2003, the company received the Golden Bull Award − Malaysia 100 Outstanding SMEs in an event organized by Nanyang Siang Pau. It was also the recipient of the SMI Recognition Award Series 2003 organized by SMI Malaysia.
In 2004, Pelangi Publishing Group Bhd. consolidated its corporate position in the publication business by becoming the first Malaysian academic book publisher to list on the second board of Bursa Malaysia.
Pelangi Publishing Group Bhd. pioneered a new and creative approach in the publication of its academic books by incorporating innovative Tip Boxes and Summary Pointers that made referencing and cross-referencing a breeze for students.
In 2001, the company became the first Malaysian publisher to carry out e-business through its online channel where customers could order books online. It then launched its very own e-library, the Kidsplanet, a digital library where users could read and download books of their choice.
Pelangi Publishing Group Bhd. is particularly proud of its growth in the publication business. It started with the publication of revision books, then steadily branched into textbook publishing, and later into children’s books and translated books. It then penetrated the international market by successfully exporting its books throughout the world. In recent years, it has also expanded into the printing and multimedia businesses.
PRODUCTS
Pelangi Publishing Group Bhd produces an average of 700 titles a year. Academic and children’s books constitute the bulk of the titles while translated books and other general titles make up the rest.
In addition to books, Pelangi Publishing Group Bhd also offers printing services for a number of international publishers such as Macmillan.
In 2001, the company started its multimedia and web-related services that dealt in quality academic CD-ROMs, children’s CD-ROMs and video CDs. Its web-related services featured Kidsplanet and e-bookstore. Kidsplanet was the first e-library service of its kind in Malaysia, offering preschool children endless online fun through its online reading and activities.
The company has also formed strategic partnerships with international names like J.K. Rowling for the publication of a Malay-language version of the Harry Potter titles, DC Comics for Superman and Batman, Lucasfilm Ltd. for the Star War series, Paws Incorporated for Garfield, Rainbow S.R.L for Tommy & Oscar, Discovery Communication Inc. for Discovery, The Walt Disney Company, Dorling Kindersley Ltd. and Usborne Publishing Ltd.
The company has also embarked on the publication of comics which prove to be
highly marketable and an effective and interesting educational tool to help boost the learning process of our children.
PECC or Pelangi Early Childhood Curriculum is a project that deserves a special mention. It is a programme which is designed for kindergarten operators who want to adopt a systematic, quality and integrated preschool curriculum for children aged 4 − 6. Pelangi Publishing Group Bhd. is the licensee for the highly acclaimed programme.
The company invests a great deal of time and energy in pre-publishing research in terms of layout, paper choice, colour usage and contents writing. It stands out from its competitors by offering a much more comprehensive range of books. A 2004 survey by Inforcredit D &B revealed Pelangi Publishing Group Bhd. to be the only Malaysian publisher with one of the widest range of publications that included reference books, textbooks, supplementary books, children’s books, general books as well as multimedia related publishing (e-publishing). In 30 years, the company has accumulated a pool of experienced writers who are well versed in their respective fields, and understand how to efficiently convey information and knowledge across to the readers.
Pelangi Publishing Group Bhd. is a fully integrated publisher capable of completing the entire publishing process under one roof. The integrated one-stop setup enables the company to cater to the individual print media’s requirements. From initial script to editing and illustration, typesetting and colour setting, and finally to printing, binding, packing and distribution, vigorous monitoring and stringent quality control are conducted to ensure that the final product is of impeccable quality.
RECENT DEVELOPMENTS
In Malaysia, over 2000 bookshops located in all 13 states distribute Pelangi’s books. Overseas, the company sells books in over 20 countries.
In 2004 and 2005, the company expanded its business overseas with the setting up of subsidiary companies in China, Thailand and Indonesia. The recent expansion has resulted in increased marketing activities in these countries. In addition to selling to countries in Southeast Asia, the company is also targeting the Middle East and West Asian countries like Egypt, India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.
The company launched the Biography of Tan Sri Datuk Kuek Ho Yao in 2004, a high-profile personality in the Chinese community in Malaysia. The biography documented the life of Mr. Kuek and his selfless contribution to education in Malaysia.
In 2005, the company developed a Chinese language learning programme in Indonesia. This learning programme caters to Indonesians who are keen to learn the Chinese language. Later, this programme was also launched in Thailand. Seminars and workshops were conducted.
By the end of 2005, a new office-cum-warehouse building in Bangi, Selangor, with a built-up area of 80,000 sq ft was ready for use.
PROMOTION
Pelangi Publishing Group Bhd. has a proactive customer relationship management programme with its distributors. Promotional activities are co-organized frequently in bookshops to create awareness of its books. The company also promotes its books directly to teachers, principals and kindergarten operators.
Participation in book fairs, locally and overseas, plays an important role in the company’s effort to showcase its latest series of books. Joint promotional activities with airlines and banks are held occasionally. Pelangi books are given to young travellers on board and to young savers who open savings accounts.
The company takes part in community service actively by donating books to school libraries, community libraries and charitable organizations. Books are also given
to children and students from poor and needy families every year.
BRAND VALUES
The brand values and professional ethics of Pelangi Publishing Group Bhd. adhere closely to its motto ‘Quality Books for Quality Education’. The public perception of the company as a publisher that people can rely on for top quality educational products is the successful culmination of its commitment to helping to shape a brighter future for everyone through education.