Our History

Establishment

1964

The Government of Malaysia back then directed a study on the establishment of a national standards organization. In light of Malaysia’s accelerating industrial development, there was an urgent need to adopt the principles of standardisation.

The National Standards Body

1966

The Standards Institution of Malaysia (SIM) was established in early 1966 as a department under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. In October 1966 The Standards Act No: 76 1966 was passed in Parliament, making SIM the national standards body. The Act provided the Standards Council with the independent authority for the declaration of standards and the issuance of certiﬁcation mark licences.

The Governed

1966

The Standards Institution of Malaysia (SIM) is governed by Government Ministries, trade, commerce and manufacturers’ associations, scientiﬁc research and professional bodies, labour and consumers organisations.

YM Raja Tan Sri Mohar Raja Badiozaman has been appointed as Chairman of the Standards Council and Dr. Leong Kwok Onn became the Director of SIM as well as Secretary to the Council.

SIM Certification Mark Launched

1970

The Sim certificate Mark, (the logo design of which was obtained through a competion held in 1966) was inaugurated in July 1970 by the Honourable The Minister of Commerce and Industry, Encik Mohamed Khir Johari. The SIM Certification Mark (logo design was selected via a 1966 competition) was launched in July 1970.

It featured a crown-shaped emblem with “SIM” and the phrase “Approved to Malaysia Standard”.

Forming SIRIM

1974

The National Action Council decided that SIM to be merged with the National Institute for Scientiﬁc and Industrial Research (NISIR) to form the Standards and Industrial Research Institute of Malaysia (SIRIM).

Formation of SIRIM

1975-1977

16 September 1975 – SIM merged with the National Institute for Scientific and Industrial Research (NISIR) to form the Standards and Industrial Research Institute of Malaysia (SIRIM), operating under the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI)

9 March 1977 – SIRIM Complex in Shah Alam was officially opened by His Royal Highness Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah Al-Haj, the late Sultan of Selangor

DYMM Sultan of Selangor, Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah, consented to watch the testing of helmet after the ofﬁcial opening of SIRIM Complex in Shah Alam, Selangor.

New Controller

1977

Prof. Chin Fung Kee, Chairman of SIRIM Council welcomed En. Abdullah Mohd. Yusof as the new Controller of SIRIM, which was previously held by En. Mohd. Hashim Sam Abdul Latiff.

Expansion and Recognition

1979 – 1982

1979 – SIRIM appointed custodian of Weights and Measures under the Weights and Measures Act

1980 – Introduction of Conformity and Safety Mark and SIRIM security labels, initially for motorcycle helmets, seat belts, ballasts and luminaires

1981 – National Metrology Laboratory established

1981 – 1982 – Expansion with four new branches:

Sept 1981 – Sarawak
Oct 1981 – Terengganu
Nov 1982 – Johor
Dec 1982 – Sabah

The Safety Mark is intended to be used on products which comply with electrical safety requirements of the Malaysian Standard. With this arrangement many electrical products meeting the eletrical safety requirements but not performance characteristics will be able to use the Safety Mark under the Safety Mark Scheme.

Safety Mark

Standard Mark

Conformity Mark

Security Mark

Restructuring and Corporatisation

1990s

1991 – First year of operations under a major restructuring. The key message was clear: “SIRIM must adapt and provide scientific and technological leadership in a changing national and global environment”

24 July 1993 – SIRIM (Incorporation) Act 1975 amended, allowing SIRIM to:

Undertake commercial operations via joint ventures or subsidiaries
Replace the 24-member Council with a streamlined 13-member Board

1993 - Establish Majlis Rekabentuk Malaysia (MRM) with SIRIM as secretariat

1995 – First joint venture – Sime-SIRIM Technologies Sdn Bhd established

1 September 1996 – SIRIM was corporatised and known as SIRIM Berhad, a wholly-owned company by the government under the Companies Act 1965

Following corporatisation, the Department of Standards Malaysia was established to undertake national standardisation and accreditation

SIRIM Incorporation

1993

The rapidly changing market needs resulting from the accelerating national industrialisation and globalisation of markets called for the amendment of the SIRIM (Incorporation) Act 1975, which was approved by Parliament came into effect on 24 July 1993 allow SIRIM to:

Undertake commercial operations through the formation of joint-venture or wholly-owned subsidiaries.
Replace the 24-members of SIRIM Council with a 13-members of SIRIM Board which enables greater accountability and efﬁciency and further strengthen the linkages between SIRIM and the industry.

SIRIM Berhad

1996

On September 1, 1996 SIRIM was corporatized to be known as SIRIM Berhad under the Companies Act which is vested with all the rights, privileges and obligations of SIRIM.

Continued Growth and Repositioning

1997 – 2022

1997 – 2022 - Formation of multiple SIRIM subsidiaries to support various sectors and innovation needs

2015: National Metrology Laboratory rebranded as National Metrology Institute of Malaysia (NMIM)

October 2018: SIRIM Berhad was transferred under the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (MITI)