REIMAGINE YOUR BUSINESS EVENT WITH CLUB MED: WHERE INSPIRATION MEETS EXPERIENCE
INCORPORATE THE WONDERS OF THE TROPICAL PARADISE IN MEETINGS AND EVENTS WITH A UNIQUE BLEND OF INNOVATION AND PROFESSIONALISM.
Choosing the right business venue goes beyond the essentials of business events, and is more than just cold corporate settings to gather for meetings, conferences, exhibitions and forums. The rising popularity of unique team bonding experiences has increased the demand for ideal
business venue. With its idyllic and picturesque settings, Club Med is an inspirational choice for business events, promising innovation and professionalism.
Since 1950, Club Med has passionately crafted bespoke moments of pure happiness. The resort offers the luxury of savouring special persona
and professional moments beyond expectation. Inviting guest to embrace an all-inclusive experience that celebrates free spirit, Club Med promises versatile packages for meetings and events. With a choice of international destinations, Club Med opens its doors to business planners and travellers to host unforgettable
events at its exceptional resorts worldwide.
INSPIRING AND INNOVATIVE OFFERINGS
Club Med’s meeting venues are intuitively crafted to offer extraordinary settings, paired with all-inclusive meetings and events packages that cater to their clients’ every need. From brainstorming sessions on pristine beaches to corporate presentations in meeting rooms, Club Med aims to make every event memorable.
Experience the luxury of a free-flow of food and beverages, including alcohol, as part of the all-inclusive meetings and events packages. At Club Med, guests stand to revel in a plethora of options for team-building activities and annual company holidays.
The beautiful beach-front settings is the perfect venue for thought-provoking brainstorming sessions and team activities hotbeds amidst tropical gardens endowed with lush flora and fauna as well as manicured garden spaces. Dishing out nothing but quality, Club Med has great options for hosting every type of event, from initmate meetings to 1000-pax company anniversary trips. The blend of leisure and business ensures a balanced and productive experience for corporate teams.
Recognising the complexities of choosing the ideal venue for corporate functions, meetings or team building, Club Med has a host of meeting and event experts who are able to provide guests or planners with advisory services on how best to deliver an outstanding event. With professional support provided, guests and planners can now concentrate on the wellbeing of their teams and guests while leaving Club Med’s experts to ensure flawless gatherings.
Guests are spoilt for choice at
Club Med with its wide range of resorts in stunning destinations. Whether the search is for an intimate setting or a white party, Club Med has the perfect venue for events.
SUSTAINABILITY AT CLUB MED
Club Med’s “Happy To Care” initiative represents the company’s commitment to sustainability and social responsibility. This approach reflects Club Med’s pioneering vision to create a positive impact on the environment, local communities, and the well-being of its guests and staff.
Club Med is dedicated to reducing its environmental footprint through various initiatives aimed at preserving natural resources and promoting ecofriendly practices. The resort also actively participates in protecting and restoring the biodiversity of the regions where its located. At the same time, this initiative emphasises the importance of giving back to the communities surrounding Club Med resorts.
With sustainability taking centre-stage in today’s lifestyle and commercial landscape, Club
COVER STORY
Med is committed to educating and involving guests in sustainability efforts. “Happy To Care” also provides training programmes and volunteer opportunities to educate its employees and encourage employees to participate in local communities and environmental projects.
“Happy To Care” initiative is testament to Club Med’s dedication to responsible tourism and creating a positive impact on the world.
For more information, visit https://shorturl.at/j33UY or email mice.kualalumpur@clubmed.com. Discover the perfect blend of business and leisure with Club Med and make corporate events truly unforgettable.
Club Med’s Stunning Resorts
Club Med Cherating: Embracing The Beauty Of Nature
Located in Pahang, Malaysia, Club Med Cherating spans 80 hectares of lush rainforest and is the world’s longest wooden resort on stilts, as recorded in the Guinness Book of Records. This untouched paradise is perfect for corporate events, featuring four meeting rooms ideal for business travellers. Enjoy team-building on private beaches, natural rock climbing, guided eco jungle treks, and exclusive cocktail receptions in various outdoor spaces. Savour local and international cuisines at its restaurants and bask in the completeness of Club Med’s offerings.
Club Med Bali: Modern Comfort Meets Balinese Culture
Located in one of the most serene places in the world, Club Med Bali provides an enriching experience with gourmet cuisines, exhilarating activities, and intriguing Balinese culture. Equipped with three intimate meeting rooms and 210m² of meeting spaces, it is ideal for executives seeking sophisticated conference facilities in a traditional Balinese setting. Engage in a variety of team-building activities and sport challenges to ensure a productive and enjoyable event.
Club Med Phuket: Balance Work and Fun
Situated an hour away from Phuket International Airport, Club Med Phuket offers picturesque beach views at the heart of Thai vibrancy. Renovated rooms and 264m² of meeting spaces make it perfect for business-leisure events. Engage in unique team-building activities such as Muay Thai boxing classes and traditional Thai cooking classes. Explore Phuket with exciting excursions while blending work and entertainment in a lively, culturally rich settings.
DSAM’S 45TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS, CONVENTION & OUTSTANDING ENTREPRENEURS AWARDS 2023
To commemorate DSAM’s 45th anniversary, the association held the DSAM Convention & Outstanding Entrepreneurs Awards 2023. The event was graced by Dato’ Rohaizi bin Bahari, Senior Director of Distributive Trade and Business Sector, Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living. He expressed his pleasure in joining DSAM to celebrate the association’s 45th anniversary.
DSAM President, Zaihan Ariffin welcomed guests and members, and expressed his sincere appreciation to Dato’ Rohaizi for honouring the association with his presence. He also expressed appreciation to all DSAM’s board members and past presidents as well as other office bearers for their invaluable contributions in driving the association forward and achieving numerous milestones.
“Forty-five years is a significant milestone especially for a trade association as DSAM was founded even before the Direct Sales & Anti-Pyramid Scheme Act (Act 500) which was enacted in 1993. This is significant as DSAM was built on the foundation of collaboration, cooperation and trust as all your members and stakeholders, especially with KPDN,” commended
Dato’ Rohaizi as he expressed that KPDN was aware of DSAM’s vast initiatives in helping direct selling companies grow and succeed.
He elaborated that DSAM has played a major role in developing the policies that have shaped the direct selling industry. Dato Rohaizi expressed his hope that DSAM and KPDN will continue to work together to strengthen the direct selling industry in the years to come.
The night started with vibrant retro music to the theme “1978”, with a gyrating performance by DSAM’s committee members.
Puang Ee Nang, Organising Chairperson of the event, thanked all members and stakeholders involved in the organising of the event for a job well done.
A large cake sporting red roses against a blue background was one of the highlights of the event to commemorate DSAM’s 45th anniversary. The association’s
committee members gathered on stage to cut the cake in unison. Members were also honoured with the DSAM Members Recognition Award, while the Best Dressed Award had the audience in stitches with the hilarious antics of the shortlisted contestants on stage.
The gala night featured a delicious eight-course dinner and a lucky draw segment that saw members excited over the attractive prizes. Members walked away with a wide array of prizes comprising electronics goods, travel vouchers and other fabulous prizes as well as the grand prize worth a whopping RM34,000. The dinner also posed a great networking opportunity for members to expand their business circle, meet other members and strengthen business relationships. All in all it was a colourful and unforgettable night that oozed with great memories of the splendour of yesteryears.
CEOS DEEPAVALI & CHRISTMAS LUNCHEON
A FESTIVE GATHERING AND AN INSIGHTFUL SESSION ON E-INVOICING.
DSAM celebrated both Deepavali and Christmas with a festive luncheon at the Sheraton Petaling Jaya Hotel in early December 2023, attended by nearly 50 members. President Zaihan Ariffin welcomed attendees and emphasised the importance of knowledge sharing. He provided updates on the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between DSAM and Lazada.
The event also featured an insightful presentation by Deloitte on the MyInvois System, focusing on its two transmission mechanisms: the MyInvois Portal and the API. Senthuran Elalingam, Deloitte’s Financial Services
Indirect Tax Leader, discussed the system’s regulatory aspects and the penalties imposed by the Inland Revenue Department (IRD) for non-compliance.
Another key topic was
cybersecurity, comprising discussions spanning data encryption, authentication, and authorisation standards. Members engaged in a dialogue with the experts on the impact of the MyInvois system on their businesses and the necessary integration into existing processes. The luncheon concluded with a networking session over a fusion of Malaysian and Western cuisine.
DSAM HARI RAYA CEO LUNCHEON
A MEANINGFUL FESTIVE CELEBRATION.
DSAM held its Hari Raya CEO Luncheon at the Saujana Hotel Kuala Lumpur to the theme of traditional attire and festive cuisine. The event saw members walking into the festive gathering dressed in their best Hari Raya-themed attire. In welcoming members and guests, President Zaihan Ariffin thanked the attendees for taking the time out of the busy schedules to celebrate Hari Raya together. He reminded the audience on the importance of personal data protection (PDP) and announced that DSAM is amending and relooking at the regulations to include all other industries in PDP.
“We had a session with PDP officers a few weeks ago. Moving forward, we would like to enforce PDP with all companies. Each company will need to have a PDP officer and the registration must be displayed where it can be easily seen,” said Zaihan.
The session featured a special presentation by Finexus on LHDN e-Invoicing exercise by Clement Loh, Chief Executive Officer. He introduced four e-invoicing models designed for various sizes of businesses, highlighting Finexus’ commitment to helping businesses to comply with the 1 August 2024 deadline.
Meanwhile, Joanne Loh
Finexus’ Director of Software Engineering, emphasised the benefits of e-invoicing, including improved tax transparency, automation, and efficiency in international trade. She cautioned the members that failure to issue e-invoices is an offence under Section 120(1)(d) of the Income Tax Act 1967, which can lead to a fine of not more than RM20,000 or imprisonment.
Finexus Technical Manager Ng Kuo Sean discussed Peppol Network, a global e-procurement framework, and highlighted MDEC’s efforts to boost Malaysia’s digital economy.
Other presentations included e-invoicing models by Leong Chea Hooi such as AREMA Premium and Arema Retail (B2C) Model by Yong Sin Yoon, Director of Finexus.
The gathering culminated with networking over a wide spread of festive delicacies, where members strengthened friendships and business relationships.
CNY LUNCHEON AND CYBERSECURITY INSIGHTS FOR CEOS
DSAM’s grand Chinese New Year CEO Luncheon, held in February 2024 at Saujana Hotel Kuala Lumpur, was graced by the elite of the Malaysian direct selling community, all decked in their finest CNY attire.
After a short welcome speech by DSAM President Zaihan Arrifin,
the CEO Luncheon dived deep into the topic of cybersecurity. Mandiant Chief Technology Officer for Asia Pacific and Japan Steve Ledzian was invited on stage to share his insights on the topic.
The global cybersecurity that specialises in digital forensics, breaking down and assessing what has happened.
AFTER HOURS ATTACK
In today’s digital landscape, cybersecurity is crucial for businesses. Steve Ledzian outlined key considerations in cybersecurity and demonstrated potential cyberattack scenarios.
He emphasised that ransomware and business email compromise are the two most prevalent cyber threats
today, with ransomware causing significant business disruption and crisis management due to its timesensitive nature.
Steve explained that attackers typically target personal devices like desktops and laptops instead of servers because people can be easily manipulated.
He illustrated how an attacker can even use a Word document to infiltrate a company’s system, specifically via the Ghost RAT tool.
Through the tool, the attacker gains unceasing access, even after the document is closed or the machine rebooted, establishing a continuous communication channel with the device.
Once inside, attackers can move beyond the initial target by capturing passwords, granting them access to sensitive server data.
Ransomware attackers typically break into a network, locate valuable data and encrypt it, demanding a ransom to restore it.
Steve noted that 76% of ransomware incidents occur after hours. These attackers often plan their moves, extracting and encrypting crucial data before demanding payments for recovery.
COMPLEX SCAMS
Where business email compromise is concerned, Steve explained how it
has evolved from simple email scams into complex schemes targeting corporations.
Attackers often impersonate executives, via deepfake technology sending fraudulent payment instructions to finance departments. If not properly verified, these schemes can result in substantial financial losses for companies, sometimes amounting to millions of dollars.
Steve warned that as deepfakes become more prevalent, distinguishing between genuine and fake instructions will become increasingly difficult, requiring enhanced vigilance and careful authentication processes.
Steve concluded by emphasising that technology alone is not enough to address cyber risks.
Effective cybersecurity requires a comprehensive approach involving people, processes and technology.
From top-level executives to entry-level employees, everyone in an organisation must undergo proper training to reduce the risk of cyberattacks to a manageable level.
COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH
A panel discussion on the topic featured prominent personalities in the field. Vigilant Asia CEO Victor Cheah, KnowBe4 Senior Director Phillip Tnee, and Wong and Partners Data Privacy and IP Partner Serene Kan, together with moderator Steven Ledzian made the discussion especially thought provoking.
According to Serene, the focal point for direct sales companies
are personal data breaches. Cyber security attacks resulting in data breaches is at the forefront of the government’s mind.
She said soon it will be mandatory for companies to notify regulators of data breaches and cybersecurity incidences.
Phillip stressed that cybersecurity is not only the responsibility of the IT department but all employees.
Many IT professionals are clueless when it comes to creating a security awareness training and culture programme that will work for their organisation.
KnowBe4 took away all the
guesswork with their free and easyto-implement Automated Security Awareness Program.
If the attacker can see that there is a door open, they will come, explained Victor. So, if we are able to circumvent it by knowing ourselves, by using necessary tools, we see which door it is and we know how to fix it.
Companies must be prepared. As part of the prevention aspect, we need to protect laptops, desktops and mobile devices, among others.
A MATTER OF PRIORITIES
At the end of the day, it is a matter of priorities. It is not something that
we walk out of this room tomorrow, write a cheque and consider it fixed and done.
Security needs to be part of he company culture, and employees need to see it as a shared responsibility for the good of all, he said.
The event concluded with a captivating lion dance performance by the special children from Pusat Penjagaan Kanak-Kanak Cacat Taman Megah.
In the spirit of Chinese New Year, DSAM members generously participated in an angpow collection event as they provided meaningful support to the home.
DSAM EXTRAORDINARY GENERAL MEETING 2024 & CEOS MEETING
DSAM welcomed its members to an Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) in late August 2024, where the association introduced major amendments to its constitution for the first time in 20 years. This exercise was carried out to update the constitution, ensuring equality, transparency, and growth for all DSAM members. Additionally, it aimed to ensure the association remained aligned with evolving changes over the years. Members had the opportunity to review and learn about the changes to the
constitution. The session was attended by more than 120 participants.
The EGM was followed by a CEOs Leadership Talk by Dato’ Dr Daniel Ho, a renowned leadership coach, speaker and mentor entitled “Integrity in Business”. Dato Dr Daniel is also well-known for driving impactful conversations on leadership, business and social issues. During the session, Dato Dr Daniel quoted Rick Warren in stating that “The first job of leadership is to love people. Leadership without love is manipulation.” The audience
was enthralled by Dato Dr Daniel’s real-life experiences that offered valuable leadership lessons. The session was insightful and engaging with members being given the opportunity to ask questions.
The session culminated with a presentation by Club Med. The presentation revolved around Club Med’s exquisite offerings and introduced the resort to members as an idyllic destination for corporate as well as personal trips. The afternoon ended with lunch and a great networking session where members were able to interact and get to know each other better.
KPDN AND DSAM BENCHMARKING TRIP TO SOUTH KOREA
From 29th July to 2nd August 2024, DSAM and the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living (KPDN) undertook a benchmarking trip to South Korea, led by Dato’ Seri Mohd Sayuthi bin Bakar, the Secretary General of KPDN, along with other senior officials.
The trip began with a meeting at the Korean Direct Selling Association, where valuable insights on the direct
selling industry in Korea were shared, while further fostering relationships and collaborations. The delegation then met with Mr. Dong Il Nam, Secretary General of the Korean Federal Trade Commission, to discuss regulatory frameworks, consumer protection, fair trade practices, and the enforcement of laws ensuring the integrity of direct selling operations.
A visit to Coway’s Research and Development Centre allowed
the Malaysian team to learn about Coway’s innovative product development methods in water and air purification. Following this, the team engaged with the founder of Atomy, Chairman Han-gill Park and his team, gaining insights into the company’s unique business model and marketing strategies centered on high-quality products at affordable prices. The trip concluded with a meeting at Amore Pacific, a leading cosmetics and personal care company.
