Launching of the National Celebration for World Tourism Day (WTD) 2019 by YB Tuan Muhammad Bakhtiar bin Wan Chik, Deputy Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture. .

KUALA LUMPUR, 27 SEPTEMBER 2019 – The national celebration of the World Tourism Day (WTD) 2019 was held at EQ Hotel Kuala Lumpur on 27 September 2019 (Friday). For the first time, the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture Malaysia (MOTAC) has joined hands with the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) and PATA Malaysia Chapter (PMC) in organising the WTD 2019.

The World Tourism Day, initiated by the World Tourism Organization or UNWTO, is commemorated around the world each year on 27 September. Its purpose is to foster awareness among the global community on tourism industry’s social, cultural, politicaland economic value and the contribution of this sector in reaching the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In line with UNWTO’s overarching focus on skills,education and jobs throughout 2019, the theme for this year’s World Tourism Day celebration is “Tourism and Jobs: A Better Future For All”. The theme was specifically selected to emphasise the importance of creating and ensuring equitable employment in the tourism industry to increase social inclusion, peace and security. This comes with the emergence of new technologies that has put pressure on socioeconomic growth, jobs and inequality. Thus, there is an essential need to examine the impact and to provide those who are impacted with the tools and skills to develop their full potential tobenefit from the new technological era.

This year’s WTD celebration, together with the launch of the of Domestic Tourism Survey (DTS) by States and Tourism Satellite Account (TSA) 2018, was officiated by the Deputy Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture Malaysia, The Honourable Mr. Muhammad Bakhtiar Wan Chik,

A tourism symposium was also held in conjunction with WTD 2019. The symposium, adequately titled “Tourism and Jobs: A Better Future For All”, featured an impressive line-up of speakers including the President of the Malaysian Association of Hotel Owners (MAHO), YBhg. Tan Sri Dato’ Teo Chiang Hong; Group Chief Marketing Officer and Customer Experience Officer of Malaysia Airlines Berhad (MAS), Ms. Lau Yin May; President of Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (MATTA), YBhg. Datuk Tan Kok Liang and Senior Lecturer, School of Hospitality, Tourism and Events, Facultyof Social Sciences and Leisure Management, Taylor’s University, Dr. KandappanBalasubramanian. It was moderated by the Deputy Dean (Research and Industry Linkages), Facullty of Hotel and Tourism Management, Universiti Teknologi MARA and President, Tourism Educators Association of Malaysia, Associate Prof. Dr. Mohd. Hafiz Mohd. Hanafiah. The symposium explored ways to accommodate future tourism trends, methods to improve tourism practices and scrutinised ways to create more job opportunities in the industry.

The World Tourism Day (WTD) 2019 celebration in Malaysia this year brought together Ministries, agencies, industry players, non-governmental organisations, students from more than 11 universities and representatives from the media and created a platform to exchange ideas and experiences, enhance their knowledge of the industry and further expand the existing network for tourism industry’s growth and development.

2019 THIRD AGE & LONGEVITY ECONOMY FORUM “Unlocking the Longevity Economy, Generating New Growth and New Opportunities”

 L/R YB. Dr. Lee Boon Chye, Timbalan Menteri Kesihatan Malaysia , Sri Michael Yeoh, President, Kingsley Strategic Institute Distinguished 

Kuala Lumpur 26 September 2019 : It is a great honour to be here at this conference to deliver the keynote address on the topic of ‘Unlocking the Longevity Economy as the New Growth Sector”. I would like to thank the organising committee for this opportunity and for choosing the theme, which is apt and relevant with current healthcare climate both locally and globally. Allow me to get straight into it. According to the UN World Population Ageing Report 2017, the global population aged 60 years or above numbered 962 million in 2017, and this is more than twice as large as in 1980. The number is expected to double at 2050 when it is projected to reach nearly 2.1 billion.

By then in 2050, there will be more older persons aged 60 or over than adolescents and youth at ages 10-24 (2.1 billion versus 2.0 billion). Those aged 80 years or over is projected to increase more than threefold from 137 million to 425 million during the same period from 2017 to 2050. At the moment two-thirds of the world’s older persons live in the developing regions, where their numbers are growing faster than in the developed regions. In 2050, this proportion will reach 80%.

The process of population aging is a major success story,  due to advances in medicine and also to the rapid declines in fertility. The economic and social consequences of aging are considerable, particularly with regard to the increasing burden of dependency. These consequences in the developed nations have been well documented. However, less is known about the effects in developing countries despite the fact that the developing countries are aging more rapidly. Awareness of issues concerning older populations remains low in many developing nations, even as the absolute numbers of the aged doubled and tripled. These countries will be faced with “old” demographic profiles at much lower levels of per capita income compared to the developed nations at similar demographic profiles. The increase in ratio of the elderly to the working-age population (the “old-age dependency ratio”) has significant consequences on the demand for and provision of social and support services such as health care, housing, retirement benefits and long-term care. 

Aging populations face a series of health problems and needed healthcare services beyond the sheer growth in the numbers of older persons. Firstly, the predominant illness profile has shifted from one characterized by acute, communicable diseases to the chronic and noncommunicable. For instance, cardiovascular diseases and cancer had become the leading cause of death in most developing nations, including Malaysia. Second, the numbers of disabled persons increase as their populations grow older and these will exert additional demand for the related services. Third, many countries face an imbalance between where services are provided and where the elderly actually live. Rural areas tend to have higher proportions of older persons, while health care services (especially chronic care) tend to be concentrated more in urban centers. Lastly, population aging also increases age-specific consumption of and spending for health care by the elderly. These factors call upon us to plan ahead to meet the demand.

The growing population over 60 represents both a transformative force by itself and a net asset—a fast-growing contingent of active, productive people who are working longer and taking the economy in new directions. They contribute to society in many ways – be it within their family, to their local community or to the society. However, the extent of these human and social resources, and the opportunities available to them will be heavily dependent on one key characteristic: their health. If people are experiencing these extra years in good health, their ability to do the things they value will have few limits.

Hence, implementing effective health promotion and disease prevention programs that reduce chronic disease risk factors will have major implications for a country's healthcare system as well as the economic development. In Malaysia, we are expected to have reached the status of an ageing nation with 15% of the population above the age of 60 by 2030. In the NHMS 2018, which was published in May 2019, 6% of our elderly aged 60 lived alone with 30% had poor social support even though 70% of them remained active. 10% of them had dementia, 30% had depression, similarly 30% had diabetes, 40% had urinary incontinence and half of them had hypertension. 15%  of them also experienced falls over past 12 months.

The result of this survey illustrates the health issues as well as challenges we face related to elderly population in Malaysia.  MOH is working hand in hand with the Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development in implementing the National Policy for the Elderly. This policy was adopted to establish a society of the elderly who are contented, dignified, possessed of a high sense of self-worth, and optimising their potential, as well as to ensure that they enjoy all opportunities besides being given the care and protection as members of a family, society and the nation.  MOH is committed to provide continuous and comprehensive healthcare services for the elderly. The 1000 Klinik Kesihatan throughout the country register the elderly population within the area of service and provide health screening, NCD treatment and rehabilitation treatment when needed. We have set up domiciliary care team in 160 Klinik Kesihatan so far. MOH is also responsible for the training of human resource for healthcare needs of the elderly. MOH will soon enforce the Private Aged Healthcare Facilities and Services Act 2018 to ensure the minimum standard for all healthcare support and services for the elderly. 

Conventional thinking frames population aging as a demographic challenge that will threaten national economies by decreasing productivity and increasing public spending. Through this lens, the elderly are dependent and disengaged and viewed as burdens on the system rather than benefits to society. Mainstream policy frameworks, employee- employer contracts and social perceptions of the aging in large part rely on outdated models and assumptions about the labour force, retirement and pensions.

Twenty-first century demography demands a new outlook of aging populations as drivers of economic growth and innovation. One that sees their untapped potential to build and contribute to a flourishing silver economy – an environment in which the over-60 interact and thrive in the workplace, engage in innovative enterprise and lead healthy, active and productive lives. Their experience, wisdom and energy should continue to be harnessed for as long as the health condition permits.  They also help drive the marketplace as consumers.

People over 60 continue to work when possible for varied reasons: to supplement incomes, to give meaning to their lives, or to keep in touch with society. In Japan many companies, specifically small and medium-sized companies (SMEs) have incorporated various adaptations such as making workplaces barrier free, reallocating work tasks, and establishing elderly-oriented ‘improvement systems” through various adaptations of their work content and environment in order to ensure the motivation and performance of elderly workers.  These companies also make adjustments for a multigenerational labour force by creating an inclusive culture that accommodates the needs of both younger and older workers. The expanding aging population with accompanied demand for service also present a large consumer market segment. Meeting the demand of these consumers  will require important shifts in understanding and approach, including:

▪ Recognizing new spending habits.
▪ Understanding the digital side of the longevity economy especially to determine which technologies they prefer and which support their needs and

▪Keeping ahead of health care trends. The longevity economy’s health care spending increases exponentially and the patterns are always evolving. Many companies have recognized the potential of the market opportunity for products and services geared to the 60+ demographic. Some of these examples include 

• The Japanese retail giant Aeon which has make changes to its outlets and shopping centres senior-friendly so that seniors feel more welcome and comfortable. The company realised in Japan, households headed by people over 65 hold nearly half of all consumer spending power, and projections suggest this will only increase in the coming years. As such Aeon is planning to expand such approach to other countries.

•The other example is Fujitsu, Japan’s leading information and communications technology company. Fujitsu has embraced the growing 60+ market with the launch of its Raku-Raku phone series, marketed specifically to the older consumer. These Raku-Raku smartphones were developed with “easy-to-use, easy-to-hear and easy-to-read functionality”. Since 2001, more than 20 million units in the product line have been sold worldwide.

Every crisis  comes with an opportunity and planning is key to success. Planning is bringing the future into the present so that we can do something about it now. When we plan well , even in the face of crisis we can still emerge not only unscathed, but a winner at the end. I hope today’s conference will help all of us to be better prepared for a aging nation. Lastly I wish to register my appreciation to KSI for inviting me here and I wish all of you a fruitful conference. 

Mindvalley Stamping its Mark in Malaysia World’s Largest Online Personal Growth Platform, Aims to Elevate and Shape Humanity’s Future

Mr. Luke Anthony Myers,

Workplace Experience Designer of Mindvalley  

KUALA LUMPUR, 26 September 2019 – Homegrown personal growth education company Mindvalley launches its Hall of Awesomeness, a RM1.3 million state-of-the-art auditorium in Menara UOA, Bangsar in Kuala Lumpur.

The new auditorium has allowed agility in the workplace for more creativity and innovation that stimulate divergent levels of thinking, with Mindvalley striving to provide employees with the best working environment that is conducive to their needs. It was built with the purpose of sharing and celebrating company achievements, as well as for social gatherings within the company, and hosting tech and startup events.

The 150-capacity auditorium, which is fully equipped with cutting-edge sound system and live video streaming capabilities is the latest addition to Mindvalley’s award-winning office in the heart of Kuala Lumpur.

                       Mr. Vishen Lakhiani, Founder of MindvalleyA Truly Inspiring Workspace

Mindvalley’s most recent recognition is making it to Inc’s World's 10 Most Beautiful Offices of 2019 and it has grew to become a company with more than 300 employees from over 59 different nations. The man behind it is Australian Workspace Experience Designer, Luke Anthony Myers, who has created a workplace experience unlike any other.

“More than 30% of usable space has been increased in the office by building split-level mezzanine platforms. The space was designed to reflect the company’s values, beliefs and its diversity. With one of our core values being ‘Happiness’ is the new productivity, it’s no surprise you’ll see lots of bright colours and natural light incorporated into the spaces,” said Luke. 

Transforming Lives

Established in 2003, Mindvalley has gained global recognition especially in the United States, for inspiring and transforming lives as it builds itself into the most innovative company in the field of transformational education. The brainchild of the company is Malaysian-born Vishen Lakhiani, who believes in raising human consciousness by evolving the way people learn, grow, work and co-create. His vision has led Mindvalley to inspire people through empowering every area of the human mind, body and spirit, focusing on what is not taught through the traditional education system. Mindvalley is the world’s largest online personal growth platform with over 10 million members worldwide. “The key to being extraordinary is knowing what rules to follow and what rules to break,” said Vishen Lakhiani, Founder & Chief Executive Officer of Mindvalley.

Written by him, The Code of the Extraordinary Mind, made the New York Times Business Best Sellers List in 2016, and has hit the coveted #1 spot on Amazon for five times in 2017. Citing the book, U.S. Tennis Open 2019 winner Bianca Andreescu is a shining example of how personal growth can help empower and shape not just  mindsets, but athletic victories. With Vishen’s drive, Mindvalley is getting closer to its mission: to touch 1 billion lives by 2038. Mindvalley’s plans for expansion in Malaysia include collaborating with local companies as well as government agencies and aim to increase their performance in key areas of life such as productivity, career, relationships, parenting, mind & spirit, health & fitness and more. Besides that, Mindvalley has been nurturing and contributing to the local talent pool with a heavy focus on technology through its learning experiences, events and programmes.

About Mindvalley, Inc. 

Mindvalley is the world’s leading personal growth education company with a mission to teach wisdom and transformational ideas that our education system ignores. We are creating a more conscious and connected world by teaching people how to become the greatest version of themselves while doing good for the planet. Mindvalley’s learning platform, called ‘Quest’, introduces a new way of learning that creates 5x better results in human transformation by combining leading technology with great storytelling, brilliant teachers, learning theory and community interaction. Mindvalley’s international community spans 100 countries and 10 million followers across its media channels and engages nearly half-a-million students on the Mindvalley learning platform each year. Visit Mindvalley.com, and follow us on Mindvalley Talks, Instagram, Facebook and YouTube for life-changing teachings.

The new Mercedes-AMG A 35 4MATIC Sedan

• Instant Adrenaline

• The new Mercedes-AMG A 35 4MATIC Sedan radiates intensity and power with a four-cylinder turbocharged engine that produces a blistering 306hp, hitting 100km/h in 4.8 seconds.

• This sedan serves as a point of entry to the AMG world in the compact class segment, with its exceptional driving dynamics that are supported by the AMG SPEEDSHIFT DCT 7G dual-clutch transmission and Adaptive Damping System suspension.
• Priced at RM348,888, the Mercedes-AMG A 35 4MATIC Sedan also features class-leading features such as the state-of-the-art safety and assistance systems, Mercedes-Benz User Experience (MBUX) and the head-up display.

Kuala Lumpur 24th September 2019 : The new Mercedes-AMG A 35 4MATIC Sedan expands the current AMG model range with an additional attractive entry-level model. It appeals to young target groups who are looking for a high level of performance and a comfortable amount of space for passengers and luggage. 

“At Mercedes-Benz, we firmly believe in the AMG claim of Driving Performance. There is an undeniable intensity in our cars, having the most advanced and powerful hearts we produce. The Mercedes-AMG A 35 4MATIC Sedan is an expansion to the compact car family and the perfect entry into the world of AMG Driving Performance. With our new A 35, we are transporting the history of AMG into modern times,” says Dr Claus Weidner, President & CEO, Mercedes-Benz Malaysia. 

Also speaking at the launch today, Michael Jopp, Vice President, Sales & Marketing Passenger Cars, Mercedes-Benz Malaysia says, “We are excited to introduce the new Mercedes-AMG A 35 4MATIC Sedan to the market. With superior power, exceptional driving dynamics with luxurious appointment and latest technological features, this new sedan is an ideal point of entry to the world of Mercedes-AMG with absolute peak performance.”

The heart of the Mercedes-AMG A 35 4MATIC Sedan

The 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo engine boasts spontaneous response to accelerator pedal commands, high tractive power (400 Nm max. torque from 3000 rpm), a supremely lively response and an engine sound typical of AMG. The crankcase made of high-strength, lightweight die-cast aluminium reduces the vehicle weight where it matters most for driving dynamics. The engine produces 306 horse power and a remarkable 400 Nm of torque. Combined with Mercedes-AMG specific 4MATIC all-wheel drive system, the A 35 accelerates from 0-100 km/h in just 4.8 seconds.

Compact yet sporty.

The sedan is based on a wheelbase of 2,729 millimetres and displays the powerful proportions of a dynamic, and at the same time, compact sedan with a sporty short overhangs at the front and rear. It includes distinguishing AMG design features such as the radiator grille with twin louvres, the AMG Line front apron with flics on the air intakes, a front splitter and silver chrome trim elements. 

Dominating the side view are the 19-inch AMG 5-twin-spoke light-alloy wheels and the illuminated door sill panels with Mercedes-Benz lettering. The two-part tail lamps and the new diffuser insert underscore the rear end that emphasises width. 

Red/black: Characteristic AMG combination

The seats are ARTICO man-made leather with DINAMICA microfibre in black with red contrasting topstitching and red seat belts. Red piping on the microfibre DINAMICA trim element and ventilation nozzles with a red ring add further accents. Another new feature is the distinct AMG center console with touchpad and additional switch for operating ESP® and manual transmission mode. 

Great freedom on the inside. 

Above-average shoulder, elbow and headroom plus easy access to the rear contribute to increased utility. The Mercedes-AMG A 35 4MATIC Sedan has a rear headroom of 944mm and a boot that holds 420 litres and was designed for practical usability. The boot opening is very large with a width of 950 mm and a diagonal of 462 mm between lock and lower edge of the rear window. This allows comfortable loading and unloading, even of larger luggage items. 

Listens to words, reacts to gestures.

In the interior, the MBUX multimedia system combines an intuitive operating structure with sporty design. MBUX creates and even closer connection between the vehicle, driver and passengers. Emotionally appealing presentations underline the clear control structure and it features brilliant maximum-resolution 3D graphics. Visually, the two displays under one shared glass cover blend into a Widescreen Cockpit and as a central element consequently emphasize the horizontal orientation of the interior design.

Combines agility and stability

As a new feature in the AMG DYNAMIC SELECT drive programs, the new A 35 comes with AMG DYNAMICS. This integrated dynamic handling control system extends the stabilising functions of ESP^® with agile interventions according to the driver’s wishes. During dynamic cornering, imperceptible braking intervention on the rear inside wheel creates a defined yawing moment about the vertical axis. The effect: the A 35 steers spontaneously and very precisely. 

Variable and agile

Dynamism, agility and performance – these three attributes characterise the standard all-wheel drive of the new A 35. The variable AMG Performance 4MATIC combines the best possible traction with lots of driving fun. The torque distribution is infinitely variable to suit the dynamic handling requirements. The spectrum ranges from front-wheel drive only to a 50:50 percent distribution to the front and rear axles.

The body-in-white

Specific measures to strengthen the front section of the bodyshell form the basis for the precise turn-in ability and the toe and camber stability of the chassis components, even when driving at speed. A so-called "shearing plate" – an aluminium plate underneath the engine – increases the torsional rigidity and bending resistance at the vehicle's front end. Two additional diagonal braces at the front of the underbody also reduce torsion and increase the stiffness.

Subtly adapts

The AMG RIDE CONTROL suspension features an adaptive adjustable damping system, which allows the driver to switch between three different suspension configurations. The spectrum ranges from comfort-focused to sporty. The system operates fully automatically, adapting the damping forces for each wheel according to the driving situation and road conditions. This happens within milliseconds and is infinitely variable, with a wide spread of damping characteristics. The result is that ride comfort and agility are enhanced in equal measure. 

Look no further 

Get the most ideal finance and insurance solutions for the A-Class, all from a single source. Designed with the customers lifestyle in mind, Mercedes-Benz Financial tailored packages enables you to have a lower fixed monthly instalments over a set period of time. Just choose a financing package that suits your need and we will take care of the rest. 

Now for a limited time, all Plan A+ financing contract comes with two complimentary comprehensive service package. Enjoy lower monthly instalments, guaranteed future value of your car, flexible end of agreement options, and a wide range of insurance products plus meticulous service packages that are conducted by trained and experienced technicians using genuine spare parts. Perfectly tailored for the individual who seeks value, unrivalled benefits and peace of mind at the wheel. 

The Mercedes-AMG A 35 4MATIC Sedan at a glance :

	Mercedes-AMG A 35 4MATIC Sedan
Displacement	1,991 cc
Output	225 kW (306 hp) at 5,800 rpm
Peak torque	400 Nm at 3,000 – 4,000 rpm
Combined fuel consumption	7.3 l/100 km
CO2 emissions	167 g/km
Acceleration 0-100 km/h	4.8 s
Top speed	250 km/h
Estimated Price (OTR without Insurance)	RM 348,888

PETRONAS UNVEILS THE NEW RANGE OF PETRONAS SYNTIUM WITH °COOLTECH™ IN MALAYSIA .

With the latest track-to-road technology, PETRONAS brings first ever hybrid engine oil and enhanced PETRONAS Syntium with °CoolTech™ range into Malaysia’s vehicle market

Mercedes AMG PETRONAS Formula 1 Driver, Lewis Hamilton (2^nd from left), with (L-R) PETRONAS Lubricants International (PLI) Managing Director and Group Chief Executive Officer, Giuseppe D'Arrigo; PETRONAS Dagangan Berhad's Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer as well as PETRONAS Vice President, Marketing, Downstream Business  Dato' Sri Syed Zainal Abidin Syed Mohamed Tahir; and PLI Chief Technology Officer, Eric Holthusen.

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 24 Sept 2019 - PETRONAS Lubricants Marketing Malaysia (PLMM) today introduced a new range of PETRONAS Syntium with °CoolTech™ lubricants formulated to fight against excessive engine heat for better engine performance and efficiency. 

The range comprises the premium low-viscosity PETRONAS Syntium 7000 Ultimate Series featuring PETRONAS Syntium 7000 Hybrid with °CoolTech™, the company’s first oil for hybrid engines, marking PLMM’s entry into the fast-expanding hybrid vehicle market. “The new range has been formulated from our experience working with the best in motorsports, the Formula One race, where optimum engine performance is key. 

In this regard, the °CoolTech™ technology has been developed to help cool critical engine parts so that the machine can run efficiently even when under pressure. Today, we are pleased to bring this technology developed from the track to Malaysian roads to benefit our everyday drivers,” said Dato’ Sri Syed Zainal Abidin Syed Mohamed Tahir, PETRONAS Dagangan Berhad’s Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer and PETRONAS Vice President, Marketing, Downstream Business. 

Meeting the latest API SN PLUS Specification and protecting against Low-Speed PreIgnition (LSPI) for turbo charged direct injection gasoline powered vehicles, the other oils in the series include the new PETRONAS Syntium 7000 0W-16 with °CoolTech™, PETRONAS Syntium 7000 0W-20 with °CoolTech™, PETRONAS Syntium 3000 5W-30 and PETRONAS 800 5W-30 °CoolTech™. 

The lubricants were showcased to media in the presence of Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS Motorsport’s Formula One Driver, Lewis Hamilton on a pit-stop in Kuala Lumpur after the Singapore Grand Prix. Also present were PETRONAS Lubricants International (PLI) Managing Director and Group Chief Executive Officer, Giuseppe D’Arrigo, as well as Chief Technology Officer, Eric Holthusen. 

“PETRONAS Syntium plays such a crucial role in the cooling of our engines and supports us in achieving results on track. The teamwork between our technical organisations has been outstanding, and it’s reassuring to know that we have the best and most reliable fluids for our engines. It makes it easier to stay focused on our ultimate goal and achieve the best result for the team on the race track,” said Hamilton. 

Driven with Inner Cool to deliver a winning performance under pressure, PETRONAS Syntium with °CoolTech™ technology is trusted by the fastest Formula 1 drivers to cool critical engine parts for optimised engine performance, as proven by the success of Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS Motorsport in the FIA Formula One™ World Constructors’ Championship over the last five years. 

Formulated for modern driving conditions, PETRONAS Syntium with °CoolTech™ technology is developed with strong oil chains to defend against excessive enginedamaging heat, optimizing fuel efficiency and keeping engines cool so that drivers, too, can keep their cool. 

PLMM has been aggressively expanding its presence across Malaysia with PETRONAS brands now available at more than 1000 retail outlets and 3,000 independent workshops across the country. 

U MOBILE LAUNCHES WECHAT GO MALAYSIA MINI PROGRAM FOR VISITORS FROM MAINLAND CHINA TO MALAYSIA.

From L-R: Dato' Joyce Yap, CEO - Retail of Pavilion KL, Yang Berusaha Encik Al-Ishsal Ishak, Chairman of the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission, Wong Heang Tuck, CEO of U Mobile, Yang Berbahagia Dato' Mohmed Razip Hasan, Deputy Director General of Tourism Malaysia, Ma Feng Ming, Head of WeChat Global Marketing.

KUALA LUMPUR, 19 SEPTEMBER 2019 – U Mobile, the data-centric and award-winning telco, has partnered WeChat, the communications platform from mainland China that offers messaging, social, games and also payments, to launch two Mini Programs within the WeChat ecosystem. The two Mini Programs are the WeChat GO Malaysia Mini Program and the Pavilion KL Mini Program. These two Mini Programs enable a digital travel experience in Malaysia that is curated based on the lifestyle preferences and needs of visitors from mainland China. Another important feature of the Mini Programs is that visitors from mainland China can even pay for services found in the Mini Programs in their home currency, Renminbi (RMB), using the payment function found in the WeChat ecosystem.

WeChat GO Malaysia Mini Program:

The WeChat GO Malaysia Mini Program aims to be a complete travel companion for visitors from mainland China as they are able to search for information on Malaysian attractions, food, culture and shopping venues via an interactive Chinese guide within the Mini Program. Apart from that, they can make payments in RMB for the services provided by the partners below:

·       POS Malaysia: Visitors from mainland China can select from a list of postcard designs featuring popular holiday destinations in Malaysia. They can personalise their message and POS Malaysia will print and deliver it to any address in mainland China. These postcards come with track and trace features, as well as unique, destination-specific cancellation marks.

·       KLIA Express: Book and pay for tickets ahead of the airport transfer train ride. The QR ticket is saved in the Mini Program itself. U Mobile and KLIA Express are also exploring extending the latter’s suite of services to cater better to visitors from mainland China.

·       TripCarte: Book and pay for tickets to tourist attractions in Malaysia. The QR ticket, which is all that is required to access the attractions, is saved in the Mini Program.

·   CatchThatBus: Book and pay for bus tickets ahead of the ride. Customers may even select their desired seats on the Mini Program. They will need to show the details of the booking to the staff before boarding.

From L-R: Parthiven Shanmugam, CEO of TripCarte, Ashwin Jeyapalasingam, COO of CatchThatBus, Dato' Joyce Yap, CEO - Retail of Pavilion KL, Jasmine Lee, CMO of U Mobile, Tuan Syed Md Najib bin Syed Md Noor, GCEO of Pos Malaysia Berhad, Zhenning Li, COO of Sunway Lincod, Noormah Mohd Nor, CEO of KLIA Express, Intan Yusnita, Head of Advertising & Promotions, WCT Malls Management Sdn Bhd.

The WeChat GO Malaysia Mini Program will serve as a key platform to attract inbound visitors from mainland China through a partnership with Tourism Malaysia for ‘Visit Malaysia 2020’. The partnership will see Tourism Malaysia promote the Mini Program to visitors from mainland China as part of its wider ‘Visit Malaysia 2020’ campaign. It will also encourage more Malaysian merchants to be part of the Mini Program so that they will be able to target these visitors. As for WeChat, they will also actively promote and raise awareness through their ecosystem to connect would-be visitors from mainland China to the WeChat GO Malaysia Mini Program in mainland China.

Pavilion KL Mini Program:

The Pavilion KL Mini Program aims to enhance the dining and shopping experience of visitors from mainland China who are visiting Pavilion KL shopping mall. To ensure communication between these visitors and Pavilion KL store merchants is smooth, the Pavilion KL Mini Program is available in two languages – Chinese and English.  Below are some key benefits:

·  Visitors from mainland China may make reservations, order and pay for their meal via the Mini Program at over 30 participating F&B merchants such as The Loaf, DOME, Michelangelo’s, Laduree, Kakiyuki and more

·  For retail and fashion stores, visitors from mainland China will be able to order and pay for their choice of merchandise via the Mini Program, and simply collect their purchases from the stores when they are ready, saving the visitors valuable time. 

         For example, Mercato Supermarket at Pavilion KL even has its own Mini Program within the Pavilion KL Mini Program. The Mercato Mini Program enables visitors from mainland China to purchase popular local products such as instant coffee and durian chocolates and collect them from Mercato Supermarket at Pavilion KL at their convenience.

During the launch event, Wong Heang Tuck, CEO of U Mobile, highlighted the significance of these two Mini Programs. “U Mobile is delighted to be able to strengthen our partnership with WeChat to launch not one, but two Mini Programs. WeChat GO Malaysia Mini Program will become an essential interactive guide for visitors from mainland China for all things Malaysia, whilst the Pavilion KL Mini Program will enhance the dining and shopping experience of these visitors in the mall.”

He added that the benefits are not just for visitors from mainland China. “U Mobile believes that the WeChat GO Malaysia Mini Program, as well as, Pavilion KL Mini Program will be excellent avenues for Malaysian merchants and businesses to reach and engage with visitors from mainland China. Both Mini Programs will help raise their visibility with these visitors and as a result, increase their revenue potential. The Mini Programs also serve as key drivers of tourism growth as they promote Malaysia to be an accessible and attractive tourist destination. We really see the benefits being all round for both visitors as well as locals.  Finally, we believe our partnership with WeChat is very in line with the country’s goal of becoming a developed digital economy by encouraging digital entrepreneurship and connectivity.”

             Jasmine Lee, CMO of U Mobile at the WeChat Go Malaysia Mini Program launch.

Ma Feng Ming, Head of WeChat Global Marketing said, “Malaysia has always been one of the favourite travel destinations amongst visitors from mainland China for its sunny weather, warm hospitality, delicious local food and many more. Partnering with Tourism Malaysia and U Mobile, we can now better serve our WeChat users by introducing more products, services and promotions to them via WeChat Mini Programs. With this collaboration, we also aim to encourage more Malaysian merchants to join and benefit from the WeChat ecosystem to engage the visitors from mainland China.”

In a speech delivered at the event, Dato’ Joyce Yap, CEO - Retail of Pavilion KL, said, “Pavilion KL is proud to partner with U Mobile and WeChat to be the first mall listed in the WeChat GO Malaysia Mini Program. Together with the Pavilion KL Mini Program, we are excited to leverage on this new platform to reach potential shoppers in mainland China. With a third of our shoppers comprising international tourists, we are constantly on the lookout for new and innovative ways to engage visitors with enhanced, tourist-friendly offerings. We look forward to providing visitors with seamless and enjoyable experiences at Pavilion KL, especially with ‘Visit Malaysia 2020’ just around the corner.”

The two Mini Programs signify the deepening partnership between U Mobile and WeChat; the first was the launch of the U Mobile WeChat GO Sim in 2017. Based on last year’s data, therewas a total of 2.9 million visitors from mainland China to Malaysia. To date, there are more than 1.1 billion combined monthly active user accounts of Weixin and WeChat globally.

The launch of both WeChat GO Malaysia Mini Program and Pavilion KL Mini Program took place at Pavilion Hotel today and it was officiated by Yang Berusaha Encik Al-Ishsal Ishak, Chairman of the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission, and Yang Berbahagia Dato’ Mohmed Razip Hasan, Deputy Director General of Tourism Malaysia. WeChat GO Malaysia Mini Program is currently live for visitors from mainland China and the Pavilion KL Mini Program will go live prior to the start of China’s Golden Week on 1 October 2019. For merchants who are interested to be part of the WeChat GO Malaysia Mini Program or businesses who are interested in building a Mini Program within the WeChat ecosystem, please visit www.wegomy.biz for more info.