With the very large population of motor vehicles in Malaysia, demand for the ‘life blood’ of the internal combustion engine is very great. This is motor oil and it’s a huge market with numerous brands, some well known from global corporations and others from smaller specialist companies.
The huge market has also attracted counterfeiters who sell inferior lubricants using reputable brand names. Motorists may be misled and buy the fake product which could cause damage to their engines. In extreme cases, engine failure could even lead to an accident.
Certification required by law
For this reason, the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living (KPDN) introduced the Trade Descriptions (Certification and Marking of Engine Oil for Motor Vehicle) Order 2024 which requires all engine oil for motor vehicles to be certified by SIRIM QAS International, a Malaysian certification, inspection and testing body.
This means every engine oil product must be tested and certified and the container must also have a conformity label that consumers can see. The label provides assurance of the oil meeting the standards specified by the manufacturers but also authenticity.
The regulation was to have taken effect in April, 2025 but postponed to October 7, 2025 to allow the industry time to clear stocks as well as for the testing of numerous products already in existence in the market. Failure to comply can lead to fines of up to RM200,000 for companies or RM100,000 fine and/or 3 years imprisonment for individuals.
Bosch products certified
Most of the oil companies and distributors have complied and among them is Bosch Mobility Aftermarket (MA) which recently received official certification from SIRIM QAS International for its latest engine oil products. 11 engine oil products in its range have been certified at this time.
The products are for both petrol and diesel engines and have fully synthetic, semi-synthetic and mineral oil formulations. As with all engine oils from global brands, Bosch products meet the service standards of the API (American Petroleum Institute and ILSAC (International Lubricants Standardization and Approval Committee).
“Receiving the SIRIM QAS certification validates our unwavering commitment to quality and safety standards in the Malaysian market,” said Dillion Goh, Country Business Director of Bosch Mobility Aftermarket Malaysia. “At Bosch, we actively support all efforts to uphold market integrity and combat counterfeiting. For every Malaysian motorist, this certification mark is a promise of reliability and genuine Bosch quality.”
Caution still needed
While the QAS SIRIM certification label provides assurance of authenticity that motorists are getting a genuine product, they still need to be cautious. They should buy from reputable stockists and online sources and be suspicious if the price is unusually low. If in doubt, contact the Mobility Aftermarket Division at Bosch Malaysia.
