MRCA I Vol10 No4 I Calvin Khiu

Franchise Expo 2023 – Everyone Wins Malaysia Retail Industry Report, March 2023

CONTENTS / VOL. 10 NO. 4

20

MRCA 26th Annual General Meeting

COVER STORY 2

Datuk Wira Calvin Khiu From Retailer To Education Icon The founder of MK Curtains and OE EduGroup Datuk Wira Calvin Khiu speaks to Christina Thomas about his unique experiences and learnings in navigating entrepreneurship.

MRCA EVENTS /MARKET INFO 9

30 KL Wellness City Launched 32 HaloCheck – Making The World A Safer Place

34 MRCA Brings Festive Cheer To Children In Johor

35 Aidilfitri Charity Donation 2023 36 Selling with Consciousness by Olivia Lee

Malaysia Retail Industry Report March 2023

14 Franchise Expo 2023 – Everyone Wins

17 Franchise Expo MIRF 2023 SEEs RM120m In Investments

20 MRCA 26th Annual General ON THE COVER

Meeting

23

CEO Get-Together, RHB’s Strong Commitment Towards Climate Change

23 CEO Get-Together, RHB’s Strong Commitment Towards Climate Change

26 Wedding Bells Ring 28 MRCA Academy Presents Team Empowerment Thru Learning And Development Datuk Wira, Calvin Khiu, Founder of MK Curtain and OE Edugroup

29 King Cole Jazz &Whiskey Lounge Launches

30 KL Wellness City Launched

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C a l vin Kh iu Entrepreneurs Inspirer

Malaysia Retailer Vol 10 No 4

DATUK WIRA

CALVIN KHIU FROM RETAILER TO EDUCATION ICON

The founder of MK Curtain and OE EduGroup speaks to Christina Thomas about his unique experiences and learnings in navigating entrepreneurship.

fiery entrepreneur that oozes confidence and grit, Datuk Calvin is no stranger to the challenges posed by the business world. An award-winning entrepreneur today, Datuk Calvin came from humble beginnings.

He was raised by his grandmother after his parents’ divorce, and learned the value of hard work and determination from a tender age by shouldering a variety of jobs including factory worker, LPG cylinder gas deliveryman and salesman, among others.

A

LESSONS LEARNED FROM ADVERSITY Datuk Calvin made his first venture into business in 2005 when he opened CK Textiles in Nilai 3.

However, his entrepreneurial journey was no bed of roses as he found himself up against bankruptcy twice. Despite the hardships, he was not about to throw the towel in on his business, instead he “took the bull by the horns” and was determined to emerge victorious.

With a RM10million debt looming over him, he developed a systematic approach called “The 12 Steps of New Outstanding Entrepreneurship”.

“I believe that the three key success factors in business are team, capital and customers,” he shares. In fact, he managed to turnaround his business with this approach and went on to fuel a thriving venture with this innovative approach. Recognising the power of the 12 steps, Datuk Calvin aspired to educate budding entrepreneurs as well as business people aiming to transform their business. To share his knowledge and help other entrepreneurs, Datuk Calvin established OE EduGroup in 2016.

His first batch of students comprise a group of only 20 people, and this has now grown to 1 million online and offline students globally in just 7 years. Today, scores of students have gained valuable insights and technical knowledge through Datuk Calvin’s signature courses, namely “OE for WWW Model”, “OE for Entrepreneurship”, “OE for Top Management”, “OE for Business Model 5G” and “OE for CEO”. In 2023, OE EduGroup’s courses were certified as Executive MBA programmes by two universities namely, Raffles University and Help University.

“When student complete OE EduGroup’s five modules, they qualify to apply for graduation

from Raffles University and Help University, which classify the programme as Chief Executive MBA and Professional EMBA, which are practical skills that are beneficial for business owners and entrepreneurs,” says Datuk Calvin.

“Every year, we aim to speak to at least 100,000 young people and use our experiences to inspire and influence them,” shares Datuk Calvin.

He continues, “Through our speeches, we hope to instil confidence in young entrepreneurs so that they can pursue their future with passion and excitement in their careers, personal lives and families.”

Datuk Calvin believes that investing in young people with dreams can make “the world belong to them”.

“I like to work with young people who have dreams, and I will work with an array of entrepreneurs coming from various industries.

This can turn them into outstanding people,” he confident reiterates.

THE SCHEME OF THINGS Speaking about his entrepreneurial journey, Datuk Calvin says that business is not just about money, instead it is about the bigger scheme of things. In saying that, he explains Malaysia Retailer Vol 10 No 4

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Malaysia Retailer Vol 10 No 4

5 that it is important for entrepreneurs to offer unique value to customers so that they can stay about the competition and capture the market.

According to Datuk Calvin, the million-dollar question remains “How big is your scheme of things?” as this will determine how big of an achievement will be gained. He reminds entrepreneurs, “If you treat your customers only as customers, you will never achieve a true ‘win, win, win’.”

He highlights further, “It’s all about models. Think about what you can give your customers that is different.”

Datuk Calvin cautions entrepreneurs not to forget to understand what their customers want and try to “enter their world”.

“Walk into their world or put yourselves in the shoes of your customers,” he tells entrepreneurs.

GLOBALLY OUTSTANDING After 7 years of hard work, OE EduGroup has broken 3 world records for the most number of participants in online and offline courses.

OE EduGroup is also the training partner for Khazanah Nasional’s prestigious training programme. OE EduGroup’s efforts won praises from the Minister of Entrepreneurship and Cooperative Development, Datuk Ewon Benedick, for successfully inspiring more than 1 million entrepreneurs.

In his personal capacity, Datuk Calvin has won numerous excellence awards such as 2013 Ten Outstanding Young Malaysians, 2018 Top Ten Asia Awards – Outstanding Young Asian Entrepreneur Award and 2019 World Excellent Young Leader Award, among others.

GIVING BACK TO SOCIETY A man with a big heart, Datuk Calvin never forgets to give back to society.

He actively involved in several charitable organisations such as the founder of Pertubuhan Kebajikan

Zhen Ai, President of Malaysia Self Media General Association, Advisor of Malaysia SME Women Entrepreneurs and Youth Association, and 2016 The Star SOBA Best Corporate Social Responsibility Award, among others.

OE EDUGROUP’S PARTNERSHIP WITH HELP UNIVERSITY In speaking about the partnership between OE EduGroup and HELP University, Professor Datuk Dr Paul Chan, Vice Chancellor, President and Co-Founder of HELP University said, “The OE EduGroup comprises enterprising founders and have a

team of enthusiastic staff. They are problem solvers and have the practical mindset that not all academics have.”

“Despite various constraints, they have managed to carve out a niche for their entrepreneurship training courses. What they are doing reminded me of how I started HELP as a tiny startup 37 years ago. It is tough and challenging,” he added.

Professor Datuk Dr Paul believes that having a lot of energy and a good understanding of the urgency in business and customer service are vital qualities for success. However, he stresses that this is not enough, Malaysia Retailer Vol 10 No 4

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6 and has to be complemented by an appropriate culture and a flexible adaptable organisational design.

“Above all, collaborative leadership and personal accountability undergird the sustainability of success. We share such commonality of spirit and this is one of the key factors of the collaboration,” he points out.

Reflecting on the benefits of OE EduGroup’s programmes, Professor Datuk Dr Paul says that the company’s programmes offer hands-on and practical lessons that entrepreneurs need to succeed.

“The professional EMBA works within the framework of MQA guidelines. We validate the contents, teaching-learning approaches, the coaches and mentors, and the agreed programme learning outcomes. We are particular about these compliance guidelines as they ensure we do provide the required standards as per the programme learning outcomes,” he adds.

Candidates benefit from OE EduGroup’s well-designed set of training courses, through a coherent training programme approach. The evaluation standards are built in the programme which ensures that the learning experience of candidates is based on lifelong learning. OE EduGroup’s programmes offer tremendous enrichment and is more than just attending standard classes and passing the necessary exams.

Through partnerships such as this, HELP University hopes to achieve collaborative synnovation (synergy plus innovation) to accelerate learning growth scalability as each provider is able to help the other access resources, business opportunities and talents faster and cheaper.

“HELP practices the use of enterprise platform for collaborative businesses, especially in this digital age. No one has monopoly of ideas and talents. So such collaborations based on sound business principles Malaysia Retailer Vol 10 No 4

“Collaborative leadership and personal accountability undergird the sustainability of success. We share such commonality of spirit and this is one of the key factors of the collaboration.”

– Professor Datuk Dr Paul Chan, Vice Chancellor, President and Co-Founder of HELP University

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Malaysia Retailer Vol 10 No 4

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8 and ethical practices are welcome,” Professor Datuk Dr Paul explains.

Expounding on HELP University’s future direction, Professor Datuk Dr Paul explains that he hopes to impact personal lessons of success and failures in entrepreneurship to aspiring entrepreneurs and leaders.

“We are now designing our 4R Transformation (Regenerative Transformation) using our hindsight, insight, and then creating the foresight to capture the desired future. Entrepreneurship and Leadership development is a personal evolution with revolutionary results if successfully crafted and cultivated,” he stresses.

“We have Micro credential upskilling and reskilling courses for aspirational individuals who want to actualize their personal growth and their enterprise upscaling. We have a wide range of diplomas and degree programmes that are designed specifically for adult lifelong learning.

This is the APEL.Q programme for successful entrepreneurs and business executives who want to do a DBA, Master of Entrepreneurship and other such exciting degrees,” Professor Datuk Dr Paul continues.

The admission criteria of the APEL.Q programme is based on relevant experiential learning background, with many quality key influencers in this programme.

This programme is ideal for personal leadership and social entrepreneurship evolution. An interesting outcome of the APEL.Q programme is that HELP aims to publish the dissertation as books and as case studies to be used in post-graduate studies.

Additionally, HELP University has BATIC (Business Analytics and Technology Incubation Center) which incubates businesses for growth and globalisation. This is a platform for shared entrepreneurship success.

HELP itself is a model of a startup success and this is also used as a case study. Q Malaysia Retailer Vol 10 No 4

Hall of Fame & Awards Golden Bull Award for Top 100 Enterprises for three consecutive years.

Ten Outstanding Young Malaysians (TOYM) 2013

Malaysia’s Top Emerging Retail Brands – 2014

2016 The Star SOBA “Best Corporate Social Responsibility Award”

Ten Outstanding Young Malaysian’s Ambassador 2017, 2019, 2020, 2023

Practitioner Speech Excellence Award 2018

2018 Sin Chew Business Corporate Social Responsibility Excellence Award

Philanthropist Entrepreneur 2019

Leadership World Record Holder 2021

Won the second Guinness World Record Most Attended Intrapreneurship Course in the World – 2022

Business and Financial Magazine Cover Character Year 2014 – Special Weekly Magazine Cover Character

EY Emerging Entrepreneur of the Year 2014

The Star SOBA Young Entrepreneur of the Year 2016

JCI Creative Young Entrepreneurs Award (CYEA) Ambassadors 2016, 2018, 2022 & 2023

Top 10 Asia Award – Outstanding Young Asian Entrepreneur Award 2018

Outstanding Young Asia Entrepreneur Award @ Indonesia 2018

World Excellent Young Leader 2019 @ Hong Kong

The World First Drive-In Entrepreneur Seminar <OE for WWW Model> Learning Conference 2.0 – Recognised

by Malaysia Book of Records for the highest number of participants in Malaysia.

Won the third Guinness World Record for The Largest Branding Lesson - 2023

Market Info

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Malaysia Retail Industry Report (March 2023) Compiled by Retail Group Malaysia

PREAMBLE Members of Malaysia Retailers Association (MRA) and Malaysia Retail Chain Association (MRCA) were interviewed on their retail sales performances for the entire year of 2022 and the first quarter of 2023.

LATEST RETAIL PERFORMANCE For the fourth quarter of 2022, Malaysia retail industry recorded a strong growth rate of 13.7% in retail sales, as compared to the same period in 2021 (Table 1).

Despite the high base rate of 26.5% a year ago, this latest quarterly result met the market expectation. Members of MRA and MRCA projected the fourth quarter growth rate at 13.9% in November 2022. It was also higher than the estimate made by Retail Group Malaysia (RGM) at 6.0%.

For the last 3 months of 2022, Malaysia retail industry continued on its recovery path supported by two major festivals- Christmas and Chinese New Year (end January 2023).

On November 3, Bank Negara

Malaysia raised the Overnight Policy Rate (OPR) by 25 basis points to 2.75%. This was the fourth revision in a year. Malaysian households had to deal with reduced spending power due to higher monthly loan repayment.

After two consecutive years of dismay due to covid-19 pandemic, Malaysia retail industry recorded a positive growth rate of 33.3% for the entire year of 2022 (Table 1). This final annual growth figure was based

on seasonally adjusted volume sales on each quarter of last year.

This historical high annual growth rate was unprecedented and it will unlikely to happen again unless another lockdown took place in the future.

During the first year of pandemic, Malaysia retail industry growth rate fell by 16.3%. This was the worst contraction since Asian financial and economic crisis in 1998.

The second year of pandemic led

TABLE 1: YEAR ON YEAR PERCENTAGE CHANGE IN RETAIL SALES (WEIGHTED), 2021/22 Type Retail sales

Period

% Growth

Oct-Dec 2021 Jan-Mar 2022

26.5 18.3

Apr-Jun 2022

62.5

Jul-Sep 2022

96.0

Oct-Dec 2022

13.7

Jan-Dec 2022

33.3

Malaysia MalaysiaRetailer Retailer Vol 10 No 4

Market Info

10 TABLE 2: COMPARISON OF RETAIL SALES WITH OTHER ECONOMIC INDICATORS, 2022 1st Qtr

2nd Qtr

3rd Qtr

4th Qtr

GDP (%)

5.0

8.9

14.2

7.0

Inflation rate (%)

2.2

2.8

4.5

3.9

Private consumption (%)

5.5

18.3

15.1

7.4

Retail sales (%)

18.3

62.5

96.0

13.7

Consumer Sentiment Index

108.9

86.0

98.4

105.3

Unemployment rate (%)

4.1

3.9

3.7

3.6

Economic Indicator

Source: Bank Negara/ Department of Statistics/ MIER/ Retail Group Malaysia

to two more rounds of lockdowns with majority of retail shops remained close for weeks. In 2021, retail sale shrank by 2.3%.

In terms of total sale value, Malaysia retail industry in 2022 had recovered to 2019 level.

COMPARISON OF RETAIL SALES WITH OTHER ECONOMIC INDICATORS For the fourth quarter of 2022, Malaysia national economy reported an encouraging growth rate of 7.0% (Table 2, at constant prices), as compared to 13.7% for retail sales (at current prices).

The sustainable recovery was supported by positive growths in all economic sectors. Construction sector led the growth with 10.1%, followed by services sector at 8.9% and mining sector by 6.8%.

The average inflation rate during the fourth quarter of 2022 moderated to 3.9%. The slower growth in the cost-of-living indicator was mainly due to the lapse in the base effect of electricity inflation.

Discount on electricity bill under the PEMULIH Electricity Discount scheme was implemented during third quarter of 2021.

For the year 2022, average price of Restaurants and Hotels group recorded the highest increase with

Malaysia Retailer Vol Vol10 10No No44

7.4%. This was driven by increased prices of foods and beverages in cafes, restaurants and hotels.

The average price of Food & NonAlcoholic Beverages group had the second highest increase with 6.8%.

This is followed by Transport with 4.9% increase.

Private consumption grew by 7.4% during the fourth quarter of 2022. Consumers’ spending was driven by higher expenditures on transport, housing, utilities as well as recreational services and culture.

After two consecutive quarters below the 100-point threshold level of optimism, the Consumer Sentiment Index (by MIER) rose to 105.3 points for the last 3 months of 2022. Despite the rising expectation, Malaysian consumers were still worried of rising cost of living.

Unemployment rate during the fourth quarter of 2022 slowed down further to 3.6%. The pace of hiring was normalising while jobless claims remained low during the fourth quarter.

RETAIL SUB-SECTORS’ SALES COMPARISON Generally, the sales performances of retail sub-sectors during the fourth quarter of 2022 were uplifting.

After 3 consecutive quarters of high growth rates, the sale

turnover of Department Store cum Supermarket sub-sector moderated at a growth rate of 7.4% during the fourth quarter of 2022. For the entire year, the business of this sub-sector inclined by 34.8%.

Similarly, the retail business of Department Store sub-sector enjoyed robust growth rates during the first 9 months of 2022. For the last 3-month period, it expanded at a slower rate of 12.4%. For the entire year of 2022, its sale jumped by 63.2%. It was the best performing retail sub-sector for the year.

The Supermarket and Hypermarket sub-sector managed to turn around with a growth rate of 7.9% during the fourth quarter of 2022. The growth rate of this subsector was 5.1% in 2022. It was the worst performing retail sub-sector for the year.

On the other hand, the MiniMarket, Convenience Store & Cooperative sub-sector maintained a sustainable growth rate of 24.0% in retail sales during the fourth quarter of last year. For the whole year, it grew by 17.0%.

During the fourth quarter of 2022, the Fashion and Fashion Accessories sub-sector registered a moderate growth rate of 15.6%, as compared to the same period a year ago. For the year 2022, it recovered strongly with a growth rate of 62.8%.

The Children and Baby Products sub-sector reported a flat increase in retail sales of 0.5% during the last 3 months of the year. For the full year, the sale of this sub-sector grew by 27.3%.

During the fourth quarter of last year, Pharmacy sub-sector reported a promising growth rate of 21.7%, as compared to the same period a year ago. This sub-sector managed to achieve a healthy growth of 24.9% for the entire year.

The Personal Care sub-sector rose by 26.2% in growth rate during

the last 3-month period of the year.

For year 2022, its sale swelled by 41.8%.

The growth rate of Furniture & Furnishing, Home Improvement as well as Electrical & Electronics sub-sector eased to 15.2% during the fourth quarter of 2022. For the whole year, the sale of this subsector surged by 33.5%.

The retail sale of Other Specialty Stores sub-sector (including photo shop, fitness equipment store, second-hand goods’ store, store retailing musical instrument, art & craft store, health equipment store, optical store, TV shopping as well as online shopping platform) rose by 4.7% during the fourth quarter of 2022. The business of this sub-sector improved by 9.9% for the entire year.

NEXT 3 MONTHS’ FORECAST Members of the two retailers’ association project an average growth rate of 9.2% for the Malaysia retail industry during the first quarter of 2023 (Table 4).

The department store cum supermarket operators is hopeful of

a sustainable growth rate of 6.4% for the first quarter of this year.

After achieving steep growth rates last year, the department store operators will experience normalisation of its business with a growth rate of 15.8% for the first 3-month period of this year.

The supermarket and hypermarket sub-sector will see its business returning to normal with a growth rate of 3.9% for the first quarter of 2023.

Operators of mini-market, convenience store and cooperative are predicting its business to strengthen with a growth rate of 15.8% during the first 3 months of this year.

Retailers in the fashion and fashion accessories sub-sector enjoyed amazing recovery last year. For the first quarter of 2023, it is eyeing a healthy growth rate of 12.3% as compared to the same period a year ago.

Similarly, retailers selling children and baby products achieved strong recovery last year. It is anticipating its business to expand

by 4.5% during the first 3 months of this year.

Pharmacy operators are still upbeat on the retail prospect for this year. It expects its business to rise by 13.3% during the first quarter of this year.

Retailers in the personal care sub-sector are hopeful that their businesses will continue its growth momentum. It aims to achieve a growth rate of 20.8% for the first quarter of 2023.

Operators of furniture & furnishing, home improvement as well as electrical & electronics are expecting their business to soften with a growth rate of 0.6% during the first 3 months’ period of this year.

Retailers in other specialty stores sub-sector (including photo shop, fitness equipment store, secondhand goods’ store, store retailing musical instrument, art & craft store, health equipment store, optical store, TV shopping as well as online shopping platform) are foreseeing their businesses to grow by 0.4% only during the next 3-month period.

TABLE 3: YEAR ON YEAR PERCENTAGE CHANGE IN RETAIL SALES

BY RETAIL SUB-SECTOR, 2022 Retail Sub-Sector

1st Qtr

2nd Qtr

3rd Qtr

4th Qtr

Whole

% Department store cum supermarket

18.3

59.7

104.4

7.4

34.8

Department store

39.1

111.3

376.5

12.4

63.2

Supermarket and hypermarket

-7.6

7.3

0.0

7.9

5.1

Mini-market, convenience store & cooperative

7.6

16.7

26.1

24.0

17.0

Fashion and fashion accessories

52.1

152.8

244.6

15.6

62.8

Children and baby products*

2.5

65.0

133.8

0.5

27.3

Pharmacy

15.5

31.5

33.9

21.7

24.9

Personal care

5.6

79.8

110.6

26.2

41.8

Furniture & furnishing, home improvement as well as electrical & electronics

4.7

81.9

55.1

15.2

33.5

Other specialty retail stores

-3.9

91.2

25.3

4.7

9.9

Notes: *- children and baby products include apparel, accessories, equipment, school uniform and toys Source: MRA/ MRCA/ Retail Group Malaysia

Malaysia MalaysiaRetailer Retailer Vol 10 No 4

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Market Info

12 This will be the worst performer among the retail sub-sectors during this period.

THE YEAR 2023 Retail Group Malaysia revised its annual growth rate in retail sale for 2023 to 4.0%, an upward adjustment of 0.5% point from projection made in November last year (Table 5).

Although Malaysia retail industry had successfully rode through covid-19 pandemic, new market challenges emerge in this new year.

Since beginning of last year, retailers have been facing with depleting profit margin. Contributing factors include rising staff cost due to shortage of staff, increased rental rate as well as rising cost of goods (due to higher material cost, higher production cost and higher transportation cost).

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Malaysian retailers were focusing on generate sales in order to survive.

For this coming year, many will

be paying great attention to cost control.

Another major challenge for Malaysia retail industry in this new year is the rising cost of living of consumers.

Prices of basic necessities have been rising since beginning of last year. In addition, prices of many consumer goods have also increased.

Higher retail prices lead to higher cost of living. This means lesser money to buy non-essential goods and services.

Domestic tourism has fully recovered since Hari Raya festival in 2022. It has helped to build up the shopping traffic of retail stores and shopping centres in both major cities and small towns. Although foreign tourists are back to Malaysia, it is still far away from 2019 level. It will only be fully recovered in 2024.

TABLE 5: MALAYSIA RETAIL INDUSTRY QUARTERLY GROWTH RATE, 2023 Quarter

TABLE 4: 3-MONTH RETAIL SALES FORECAST

BY RETAIL SUB-SECTOR, JANUARY-MARCH 2023 Retail Sub-Sector

% Growth rate

Overall (weighted)

9.2

Department store cum supermarket

6.4

Department store

15.8

Supermarket and hypermarket

3.9

Mini-mart, convenience store & coop.

15.8

Fashion and fashion accessories

12.3

Children and baby products*

4.5

Pharmacy

13.3

Personal care

20.8

F&F, home improvement and E&E#

0.6

Other specialty retail stores

0.4

Notes: *- include apparel, accessories, equipment, school uniform and toys #- furniture & furnishing, home improvement and electrical & electronics Source: MRA/ MRCA/ Retail Group Malaysia

Malaysia Retailer Vol Vol10 10No No44

Various cash handouts, vouchers and e-wallet incentives have been announced during the recent retabled Budget 2023. This will help to reduce the financial burden of B40 and M40.

Reduction of income tax by 2.0% for employees in the M40 group should channel this extra money to retail spending on monthly basis.

On the other hand, Higher income tax (1.5% more) on the T40 should not have major impact on the purchasing power of this group of people.

Luxury tax will be introduced from second half of this year. Nevertheless, the tax rate, the list of goods to be taxed, the area of coverage and date of implementation have not been finalised. It is too early to establish the impact on the Malaysian retail industry.

For the first quarter of 2023,

Growth Rate (%)

First

(e) 9.2

Second

(e) 2.8

Third

(e) 2.0

Fourth

(e) 3.0

Whole year

(e) 4.0

(e)- estimate Source: Retail Source: Retail Group Malaysia

Malaysia retail industry is expected to enjoy a strong growth of 9.2% due to Chinese New Year festival and new school holiday in February and March (Table 5).

Malaysia retail industry is anticipated to grow by 2.8% during the second quarter with contribution mainly from Hari Raya festival.

The third quarter growth rate is estimated at 2.0% only due to a high base in the same period a year ago.

For the last quarter of 2023, Malaysia retail industry is hopeful of a 3.0% growth rate after a rosy performance a year ago.

FOOD & BEVERAGE SECTOR During the last quarter of 2022, Malaysian consumers continued to enjoy their meals at physical food and beverage (F&B) outlets with limited social distancing rules (such as wearing mask before entering the premises).

During the year-end holidays, Malaysians visited families and friends as well as tourist attractions in all states of Malaysia. Food & beverage (F&B) outlets that were dependent on tourists enjoyed brisk businesses.

Food & Beverage Outlets (Cafe and Restaurant) maintained a sustainable growth rate of 9.8% during the fourth quarter of 2022, as compared to the same quarter a year ago (Table 6). For the entire year, it achieved a growth rate of 18.9%.

On the other hand, Food & Beverage Outlets (Take-Away, Kiosk and Stall) continued to achieve

double-digit growth rate of 49.8% during the fourth quarter of 2022, as compared to the same period one year ago. For the whole year of 2022, it recorded a robust growth rate of 38.7% as compared to the previous year.

Similar to retail outlets, Malaysia food & beverage industry will undergo a normalisation process in 2023 in terms of sale growth.

Last year, many F&B operators needed to increase its prices due to depleting profit margin. Reasons included higher prices on foods and ingredients needed to prepare foods and beverages, higher prices due to higher costs imposed by local distributors and manufacturers, higher rental rates, hhigher manpower cost due to shortage of staff (both local and foreign), as well as higher cost from thirdparty delivery platforms.

The F&B industry will continue

to face the same situation of costpush inflation this year.

For the first quarter of 2023, food & beverage establishments will continue to enjoy strong sales similar to the preceding quarter. The Chinese New Year festival encouraged social gathering among families and friends in cafes and restaurants.

Domestic travel during the long festival holiday also boosted food outlets’ sales in tourist-dependent towns and resorts.

Cafe and restaurant operators are anticipating their businesses to moderate by 11.0% (Table 6) during the first quarter of 2023, as compared to the same period last year.

Similarly, food and beverage kiosk and stall operators are counting their businesses to expand by 15.7% during the first quarter of 2023. Q

TABLE 6: MALAYSIA FOOD & BEVERAGE INDUSTRY QUARTERLY GROWTH RATE, 2022/ 2023 Year Quarter

2022

2023

1st Qtr 2nd Qtr 3rd Qtr 4th Qtr Whole

1st Qtr (e)

Cafe and restaurant

21.1

36.3

8.5

9.8

18.9

11.0

Take-away, kiosk and stall

5.6

35.5

46.0

49.8

38.7

15.7

Notes: -Cafe and restaurant include fast food restaurant, cafe, coffee cafe, bakery cafe, restaurant, fullservice restaurant and caterer.

-Take-away, kiosk and stall include food outlet caters for take-away only, bakery without seating, kiosk and food stall. (e)- estimate Source: MRA/ MRCA/ Retail Group Malaysia

Footnote: • This report is provided as a service to members of MRA, MRCA and the retail industry. It provides industry data that give retailers better analytical tools for running their retail businesses.

• This report is not allowed to be reproduced or duplicated, in whole or part, for any person or organisation without written permission from Malaysia Retailers Association, Malaysia Retail Chain Association or Retail Group Malaysia.

• Retail Group Malaysia is an independent retail research firm in Malaysia. The comments, opinions and views expressed in this report are of writer’s own, and they are not necessary the comments, opinions and views of MRA, MRCA and their members.

• For more information, please write to tanhaihsin@yahoo.com.

Malaysia Retailer Vol 10 No 4

Market Info

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MRCA Event

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Franchise Expo 2023 – Everyone Wins MIRF is set to storm the franchising space with new and refreshing solutions. he 6th Malaysian International Retail & Franchise Exhibition 2023 (MIRF 2023) is set to hit the scene again with a bigger and bolder presence from 7 to 9 July 2023. Making its debut as Franchise Expo 2023 (FE 2023) this year, the exhibition will occupy 5 halls comprising 600 booths this year at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre. Themed “Everyone Wins”, FE 2023 hosts a prestigious world-class stage for local and global companies as well as brands to showcase their best offerings. FE 2023 presents an all-new platform for discovering the boundless business opportunities to be found both in Malaysia and across the world.

This year, FE 2023 is targeting to attract more than 15,000 trade visitors who will have the opportunity to gain value business exposure, as well as enjoy limitless opportunities for networking and sharing from delegates across 10 countries. The

T

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exhibition will feature prominent speakers who will share their success stories and provide value business advice. Showcasing the latest retailing and franchise solutions available across the globe, FE 2023 is set to offer a melting pot of ideas, innovation and business potential.

In 2022, MIRF enjoyed great success with the participation of more than 200 local and international

retail franchises and licensing brands.

The exhibition featured more than 400 booths from various retail sectors, attracting more than 10,000 local and international visitors. With over RM100 million of transacted value over the exhibition’s 3-day duration, MIRF 2022 achieved great momentum in driving the retail and franchise sector.

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MIRF 2022 Fact & Figures Following the theme of “REBOOT: Retail & Franchise”, MIRF 2022 held to great success at Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre during its run from 14-16 July 2022, receiving great response and feedback from all exhibitors, visitors and industry playes.

Over 10,000+ visitors both local and International attended

Around 200+ local and International retail franchises and licensing brands participated

100 Mil

400+ exhibiting booths from various retail sectors

70 Mil 60 Mil

Over RM100 million of transacted value over the exhibition’s 3-days run

China

USA

Japan

400

40 Mil 20 Mil

Korea

230

380 280 260

Singapore Taiwan

Pakistan Thailand Sri Lanka

Malaysia Retailer Vol 10 No 4

MRCA Event

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Malaysia Retailer Vol 10 No 4

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Franchise Expo MIRF 2023 Sees RM120 million In Investments This sixth edition of the annual exhibition is now known as Franchise Expo Malaysia International Retail and Franchise (FE MIRF) 2023. The rebranding throws the spotlight on franchising as a key element in the expo.

he Malaysia Retail Chain Association (MRCA) targets a total of RM120 million in investments for local retailers and franchisors through the Franchise Expo Malaysia International Retail and Franchise 2023 (FE MIRF 2023). Last year, it accumulated RM100 million in multinational investments.

Previously known as the Malaysia International Retail and Franchise (MIRF) exhibition, the sixth edition this year will see the name of the expo strategically rebranded to Franchise Expo MIRF (FE MIRF) 2023.

This throws the spotlight on franchising as a key element of the exhibition, as it aims to be the leading and largest franchise exhibition in Malaysia with over 400 booths and four halls.

A world-class platform for companies to gather and showcase their best offerings, the exhibition will promote local products and services to an international market.

Its 2023 theme – “Everyone Wins” – alludes to the platform’s boundless business opportunities in Malaysia and across the world.

Ken Phua, Deputy President of MRCA, explained that FE MIRF will benefit both retailers and service providers.

“We welcome the participation of retailers from across the globe.

This will allow us to improve and strengthen our relationship with different nations and encourage investment and business

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development between Malaysia and other countries,” he said.

Through its programme, a total of 1,110 franchises have been registered under the previously known Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living (KPDN) in 2022, while 68 local brands have successfully penetrated the international market and are now available in over 70 countries, generating a total of RM100 million in multinational investments through its last edition.

Notable retail and franchise brands that contributed significantly to this success include Marrybrown, Bask Bear Coffee, MyKori, Gigi Coffee and LaundryBar, among others.

“As the organiser of the largest retail and franchise expo in Malaysia, MRCA is proud to announce that we are back stronger than ever to spearhead the country’s franchise development,” Ken added.

This year, FE MIRF 2023 is expected to attract 15,000 visitors from across ASEAN, in contrast to last year’s 10,000 visitors. In addition to that, FE MIRF 2023 will boast a whopping 450 booths across four exhibition halls for retail franchises and licensing brands to operate from.

FE MIRF 2023 welcomes the

participation of all retail franchises and licensing brands from Malaysia, China, Korea, Singapore, Taiwan, the US, India, Thailand, Indonesia and other countries. The participation of retailers and franchisors from around the world will help develop bilateral trade relationships, while strengthening existing partnerships.

MRCA strives to maintain the strongest network of affiliates in the region to bring the industry to greater heights.

Through endorsements garnered from the government and strategic partners, Ken said MRCA is confident that FE MIRF 2023 will play a significant role in revitalising the country’s economy through the development and growth of the franchise sector.

Christine Tan, organising chairperson of FE MIRF 2023 said the association understands what it takes to expand internationally, especially with its extensive capabilities and experience.

“We will assist brands in their global expansion. I am confident that the rebranding and expansion of this year’s FE MIRF 2023 will bring much-added value for our local retailers and franchisors, and we look forward to aiding them in generating overseas investments

into Malaysia,” she said.

At the exhibition, participants and delegates will have the opportunity to build brand awareness, forge connections with new business partners and accelerate business growth in Southeast Asia.

In facilitating connections with potential franchisees from all over Malaysia and overseas, FE MIRF 2023 participants and delegates will also receive services such as business matching, career matching, on-ground engagement, round table discussions and more.

For the first time ever, a Best Booth Competition will be held for all exhibitors to show off their best designs. Judges will score the booths after the opening ceremony to determine the winner. The Best Booth Award will be presented to the winner during the Networking Dinner on July 7, with a grand prize worth RM15,000. Q

FE MIRF 2023 will be held at Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre 7-9 July, 2023. For more information on the exhibition, visit https://mirf.my/ or its Facebook page https://www. facebook.com/MIRF.MRCA.

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MRCA’s 26th Annual General Meeting Members converged once again for MRCA’s annual general meeting.

RCA conducted its 26th Annual General Meeting (AGM) on 17 April 2023 at the JW Marriott Hotel in downtown Kuala Lumpur.

A total of 54 members attended the session which began with a warm welcome by President, Dato’ Sharan Valiram.

In his welcome speech, Dato’ Sharan said, “The retail industry continues to be one of the most dynamic and exciting industries in the global economy, employing millions of people around the world and providing experiences, goods and services worldwide. The industry has seen tremendous growth over the years especially after COVID-19, and it continues to evolve and adapt to market conditions and consumer

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preferences. As members of MRCA, we all have a very crucial role to play in shaping the future of our industry.”

Dato’ Sharan shared that over the last 12 months, MRCA has achieved significant milestones, and has recorded over 250 different events – the largest number in almost 32 years of the association’s operations. He reminded retailers that digitalisation is rapidly changing the marketplace, and that new technologies and strategies are crucial in remaining competitive.

In concluding his address, Dato’ Sharan expressed the association’s appreciation for the support rendered by its corporate patrons – Fusionex, Maxis Business and RHB Bank.

MRCA’s treasurer shared about the association’s income and expenditure over the last 12 months, while the Branding, Education and Charity Foundation’s treasurer reported on the foundation’s total income. Dato’ Ringo Low briefed members on the proposed amendments to MRCA’s constitution which encompassed Clause 4 on membership and conduct; Clause 2 on the definition of Retail Chain Business; Clause 8 on the function of the council; Clause 9 on the duties of office bearers; and Clause 19 on youth membership. The proposed amendments were well received and adopted.

The AGM ended with an opportunity for members to interact and network over refreshments. Q

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RHB Banking Group shared insights on the Group’s Climate Action Programme (GCAP).

HB Banking Group hosted the CEO Get-Together event on 5 April 2023 at the Romani Fusion Restaurant at Avante Hotel. Dato’ Sharan Valiram, President, welcomed the members to the session and expressed his appreciation to RHB for sponsoring the event. He encouraged members to take the opportunity to network and interact with other business owners and entrepreneurs at MRCA events.

Jeffrey Ng, Managing Director of Group Community Banking, RHB Banking Group, shared a few words and expressed his gratitude to the attendees for their participation.

During the event, RHB expounded

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on its efforts to build awareness on climate change and its impact.

The Group also shared on how retailers can start their climate action journey. RHB has decoded its ESG roadmap based on three pillars which include environmental factors that impact living organisms and non-living elements; social factors that impact individuals and groups; and, governance factors that include organisational governance structure, composition, knowledge, roles and remuneration. The Group identified the need to adapt to the evolving global conditions which make sustainability a prerequisite, which include a warmer world, more prominent global accords, increasing

and more stringent regulations, demand for non-financial information, and changing consumer behaviour.

The session highlighted sustainability megatrends in current times, in the next 5 to 10 years, and beyond the next decade.

The audience also learned about Malaysia’s agenda in delivering climate commitments encompassing the 12th Malaysia plan, the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDG) and the National Determined Contribution (NDC).

Under this banner, Malaysia’s 12th economic plan supports sustainability and promotes the green economy. The country has

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CEO Get-Together: RHB’s Strong Commitment Towards Climate Change

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also adopted the 17 UNSDGs in late 2014 and currently ranks 68th out of 162 nations, and 4th in ASEAN after Thailand, Vietnam and Singapore. As for the NDC, Malaysia has pledged to cut the ratio of carbon intensity against GDP by 45% by 2030 compared to 2005 levels, and has provided data as a signatory to the Paris Climate Agreement.

In pointing out the impact of climate change on retailers, RHB said that its effects include supply chain disruptions, increased operating costs, changes in consumer behaviour, regulatory risks and physical risks. In fact, the session highlighted that climate change increases retailers’ operating costs through increased energy costs, supply chain disruptions, investment in energy-efficient technologies, and waste reduction initiatives. RHB explained that there are only 5 steps for retailers to start their climate action journey that include measuring carbon

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footprint, identifying opportunities for emissions reduction, setting emissions reduction target and commitments, and developing emissions reduction strategies.

Retailers learnt that approximately 98% of greenhouse gas emissions for home and clothing retailers emerged from procurement and the use of sold products.

During the session, the retailers learned how to reduce their carbon emissions by way of incorporating sustainability into consumer research, testing green products, creating emissions transparency at product level, ensuring decarbonisation in procurement, decarbonisation strategy and planning, join public-sector efforts as well as developing and leading relevant industry partnerships.

The CEO Get-Together ended with a networking session, giving members the chance to interact and strengthen business relationships. Q Malaysia Retailer Vol 10 No 4

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Wedding Bells Ring ato’ Vincent Choo and Datin Cynthia Cheong welcomed the joy of wedding bells at their daughter, Alyssa Choo’s big day with Daniel Chow. Held at the One World Hotel in Petaling Jaya on 20 May 2023, the ceremony was a grand affair with more than 1,000 dignitaries, family and friends gathering to celebrate the happy couple’s union.

MRCA wishes Alyssa and Daniel, a hearty congratulations and a blissful married life. Cheers to the proud parents, Dato Vincent Choo and Datin Cynthia Cheong as well as Mr Chow Meng Hin and Madam Tan Oi Leng on the marriage of their beloved children. Q

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MRCA Academy Presents Team Empowerment Through Learning & Development Recognising the power of learning and development, MRCA Academy hosted a session on empowering teams through education.

urturing a culture of continuous learning, MRCA Academy organised a learning session on 8 June 2023, targeted at human resource managers and executives. The session themed “Team Empowerment Through Learning and Development” was attended by approximately 30 participants from various industries.

Ken Phua, Head of MRCA Academy, welcomed participants to the session and provided a brief overview of the Malaysian economic landscape and its burgeoning potential in the Southeast Asian region.

“The retail and wholesale segment in Malaysia is a major contributor to the national economy in terms of GDP – in the likes of USD373 billion in 2022,” he highlighted.

“This is why we have been working with many government ministries and agencies to drive the economy further. The pandemic has caused many retailers to close but this year, we have overcome the pandemic and we’re flourishing. We sprang back well in 2022 and this year we forecast a very moderate growth,” Ken added.

He stressed that Malaysia’s retail and wholesale market is set to achieve a growth rate of 4%, while GDP is expected to achieve encouraging growth between 5%-7% in 2023. Unemployment rates in 2022 recorded 3.9% indicating great employment prospects in the job market.

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Recognising the rapid growth potential in the market, Ken pointed out that human resource professionals need to be prepared for the vibrant market and to help employees achieve their growth potential. He added that a survey was carried out to determine the best training programmes to suit MRCA members’ needs from timeto-time to prepare employees to ride the wave of progress and growth.

“There are many grants and programmes by HRD Corp to help SMEs. We should look at how we can use these grants to our advantage to grow our businesses and boost the retail and wholesale sector,” Ken reminded the participants.

He pointed out, “Our FDI is growing as we have a vibrant economy and one of the fastest growing economies in Southeast Asia. The highest contributor of FDI to Malaysia is China at US38bil, followed by Japan and USA at around USD20 billion.”

“If you are well-trained, you are able to elevate your potential to get higher value in the industry. Lots of training are needed to elevate the knowledge of employees to retain top talents,” he stressed.

During the learning session, participants were also given an introduction to MRCA Academy, its offerings and its aim in providing members with effective education and knowledge on various industryrelated topics. HRD Corp was also on hand to brief participants on training schemes and grants available to SMEs and business owners to upskill and reskill their workforce. A brief introduction of HRD Corp was also conducted and participants were taken through a detailed journey of the organisation’s milestones strategic initiatives as well as valueadded initiatives. They also had the opportunity to view key statistics on the learning and development journey of SMEs and corporate companies. Additionally, a 30-minute briefing was conducted on course offerings and specialisations.

A Question-and-Answer (Q&A) session was also conducted to help participants grasp a better understanding of learning and development as well as to clear their doubts. The learning experience ended with a networking session where participants had the chance to get to know each other better and exchange business contacts. Q

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King Cole Jazz & Whiskey Lounge Launches he King Cole lounge at Avante Hotel, which opened its doors late 2022, launched its exclusive membership programme in March 2023. An attractive proposition for networking and social gatherings, the night themed “Evening of Excellence” welcomed a distinguished array of guests.

The premises, measuring 11,000 square feet, featured cosy and inviting vibes complemented by its contemporary interior design exuding a refined, classic British-styled ambience. Guests were treated to a line-up of hors d’oeuvres and snacks coupled with refreshing cocktails.

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Datuk Seri Garry Chua, Founder of the lounge announced the membership packages to guests comprising three versatile options comprising the Silver Level at RM6,000, the Gold Level at RM10,000 and Platinum Level at RM15,000. Members taking up packages stand to enjoy an array of attractive perks that include fine dining, food and beverage vouchers, as well as bottles of champagne and wine, among other benefits.

A sophisticated evening of networking and social nuances, the night also presented a vibrant dance performance for the pleasure of guests and friends present at the lounge. Q

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KL Wellness City Launched!

The first purpose-built healthcare and wellness city in Southeast Asia will fill a much-needed niche in the industry.

L Wellness City (KLWC), the first purpose-built township project in Southeast Asia offering a lifestyle fully integrated with healthcare and wellness, was officially launched on 1 June at the KL Wellness City Gallery in Bukit Jalil. The ceremony welcomed the Minister of Health, YB Dr Zaliha Mustafa as its guest of honour officiating the momentous occasion.

With a gross development value of RM11 billion and spanning over 26.49 acres, the development is a world-class medical and wellness

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project. It features a well-rounded ecosystem primed for wellbeing and health – the Nobel Healthcare Park, the KL International Hospital (KLIH), innovation laboratories, clinical R&D facilities, healthcare company office towers, a retirement resort, the Healthcare Hub, wellness-centric serviced apartments, the fitnessbased Central Park and more.

For the past few years, during the pandemic, Malaysia has been fighting hurdles in keeping up infrastructure development with patient load, retaining medical talents, maintaining continuance of care in preparation for an ageing

nation and a continuous war against non-communicable diseases.

HUB FOR MEDICAL TOURISM “In support of Malaysia’s national plan to be recognised as one of the best places for medical tourism, KL Wellness City is designed to prioritise health and wellbeing as the heart of its development, through its vision of a 360-degree wellness hub centred around its township which encompasses all aspects of medical care, health, wellness, fitness and business, complete with residential, retail and commercial offerings,”

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said KL Wellness City Managing Director Dato’ Dr Colin Lee. In line with the national vision of solidifying Malaysia’s position and track record as a top destination for medical tourism in mind, KL Wellness City will serve as the ultimate one-stop oasis for the body and mind for both domestic and international travellers.

PREPARING FOR AN AGEING NATION According to Dato’ Dr Colin, other than being a cornerstone for healthcare travel, the KLWC project is also an initiative that is built with an ageing nation in mind. Malaysia has an ageing population growing at a faster-than-expected rate where more than 15% of its population will be above the age of 65 by 2050.

In response to this shift in population demographics, Malaysia is currently in pursuit of WHO’s Universal Health Coverage and Sustainable Development Goals, that is to provide equitable healthcare and wellness for all.

“The KL Wellness City master plan incorporates thousands of facilities and residences. This township is a significant step towards embracing an ageing nation, with facilities for comprehensive healthcare dedicated to wellbeing through elderly care, retirement resorts, as well as independent and assisted living,” he said.

CULTIVATING LOCAL MEDICAL TALENTS KLIH, approved as a tertiary hospital with 624 beds, scalable to 1,000bed capacity, will be on the same ranks as renowned institutions like Thailand’s Bumrungrad International Hospital, as well as Mount Elizabeth Novena, Singapore.

Some of the of medical equipment and facilities to be equipped in the KL International Hospital will be among the first in Southeast Asia, offering a fully comprehensive and integrated ecosystem of healthcare services including wellness and fitness facilities across diverse areas, including cardiology, spine health, neuro health, sports medicine, cosmetic surgery and fertility, with R&D laboratories and facilities for clinical studies.

With the support of Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA), KLIH will be built within the mixed development of KL Wellness City in Kuala Lumpur with proposed investment of RM860 million. The project, set to be in operation in the first half of 2026, will create over 3,000 job opportunities for medical professionals, including medical specialists, doctors, nurses, pharmacists, technicians and others.

“The commitment of KLWC to raising the bar for healthy living and wellbeing resonates with the

Ministry of Health’s whole-of-system approach. It aligns perfectly with our national vision and the direction set in the 12th Malaysia Plan,” said YB Dr Zaliha Mustafa, Minister of Health Malaysia.

“I have faith that KLIH will attract multidisciplinary leading specialists to practise in a single hospital location, shortening turnaround time for both local and foreign patients, optimising patient care and experience.

“We foresee KLIH filling in that gap for Malaysians, and we stand in support of KLWC resonating with their purpose. The Ministry applauds the efforts of the tertiary hospital to maintain our leading position in this region and globally. We will continue to endorse KL International Hospital’s commitment,” she said. Q Malaysia Retailer Vol 10 No 4

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Halocheck – Making The World A Safer Place Committed to securing the safety of communities, HaloCheck presents a rich database of criminal list, blacklist and watchlists. aloCheck has the safety and security of its clients at heart. The company offers fraud detection and prevention e-commerce service.

HaloCheck has instant access to the largest blacklist watchlist and criminal database in Malaysia. Widely used for regulatory, compliance, due diligence, security, safety and protection screening, HaloCheck is available via desktop, mobile and API. HaloCheck’s app has been used by its customers for the purposes of due diligence, tenant or buyer screening, employer or gig workers screening, vendor, supplier or contractor screening, MACC ABAC compliance for anti-bribery and anti-corruption, and BNM AMLA compliance. HaloCheck Risk Check module offers the most comprehensive risk database in the market comprising numerous local and international databases, ensuring trustworthy data and the safety of its users.

The Community Reference Check (CRC) is a unique offering

by HaloCheck providing a list of individuals or entities that require close attention due to legal reasons.

This one-of-a-kind watchlist helps users to report unlawful individuals, and share their experiences to caution and protect other HaloCheck users and the community. It is a ground-breaking solution to prevent pilferage through the pooling of blacklists shared by credible organisations on HaloCheck’s platform, thus preventing internal theft, repeat offenders and future financial leaks. The CRC offers the business community a preventive

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tool to address individuals who violate business policies or laws. CRC lists misconduct and offences such as Breach of Employment Terms, Breach of Terms of Use, Cheating, Computer Crimes, Corruption/Bribery, Criminal Breach of Trust (CBT), Forgery, Frauds (scams), Illegal Financial Activities, Intellectual Property (IP) Crimes, Pilferage, Possession of Prohibited Goods/Materials, Power Harassment, Sedition, Sexual Harassment, Theft, Trespassing, Violence and Drug Abuse/Dealing. To ensure CRC does not violate privacy laws, participating organisations must have a PDPA policy in place to ensure compliance with privacy laws and procedures including obtaining consent for collecting, using and disclosing personal information.

Halocheck is the brainchild of Mark Leow, Founder and Managing Director, who is a passionate entrepreneur with business ventures in technology and human resources.

Mark founded Verity Intelligence in 2010 in Malaysia and expanded operations to Singapore in 2012.

Verity’s Malaysian operations bagged the Human Resources Magazine Vendors of the Year Award for Best Background Screening Company in Malaysia for 4 consecutive years from 2015 to 2018, with its Singapore operations going on to win the award in 2017 and 2018. The company had screened more than 200,000 candidates a year. In 2019, Verity was nominated as Top Nominee in the Technology Category in the Entrepreneur of the Year Award by EY for having worked with more than 1,000 customers across the

APAC regions. In 2020, Mark initiated the development of HaloCheck and launched the company in 2022 with the aim to provide instant screening, that is accessible anywhere, anytime. The company empowers reporting institutions to comply with Bank Negara Malaysia’s (BNM) Anti-Money Laundering Act (AMLA) requirements.

“Verity Intelligence and HaloCheck were founded to help companies conduct due diligence when they hire or make business transaction.

Our solutions offer quick access to information thus empowering faster and more informed decisionmaking,” says Mark Leow.

Recognising the importance of e-KYC, HaloCheck enables digitalisation of ID verification and onboarding processes. The company’s e-KYC is powered by artificial intelligence, machine learning identity and facial recognition software complemented by state-of-the-art fraud detection capabilities that surpass regulatory and industry standards for accurate digital identification. Q

COMMUNITY REFERENCE CHECK

UNITE AGAINST PILFERAGE Collaborate, share, shield.

03-7890 3470

WWW.HALOCHECK.XYZ

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MRCA Brings Festive Cheer To Children In Johor Southern Chapter makes a difference by reaching out to the needy.

RCA’S Southern Chapter and Yayasan Raja Zarith Sofiah Negeri Johor (YRZSNJ) collaborated to host Friday Iftar every week during the holy month of Ramadhan, under the “We Care We Share” charitable programme, aimed at reaching out to the needy. Through this effort, MRCA and YRZSNJ brought festive cheer to children in two Asrama Kebajikan Ar Rayyan centres at Taman Sri Amar and Taman Tampoi Utama in Johor.

Between 80 and 120 food packs were distributed to the needy children each Friday during Ramadhan.

Members from MRCA’s Southern chapter that participated in these initiatives included retailers such as Sedap Corner, SDS, Marrybrown and Tea Garden, among others.

Encik Hishamuddin bin Abd Rahim, Chief Executive Officer of YRZSNJ presented the food packs to Ustaz Mohamad Halimi Hj Kolan, Chairman of Persatuan Ulama Malaysia Johor Chapter. In his opening speech, En Hishamuddin acknowledged MRCA’s contributions toward the cause. MRCA also raised funds to purchase 1,000 hygiene packs for flood victims at temporary relief centres, in collaboration with the Sultan Ibrahim Johor Foundation.

Members’ donations amounting to close to RM30,000 were used to purchase essential items for the needy, such as towels, shower gel, shampoo, personal care items and snacks, among others. Q

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The association’s charity arm visited a home looking after abandoned children, single mothers and the elderly in Ampang called Pertubuhan Kebajikan Nur Hati he Malaysia Retail Chain Association (MRCA) under the leadership of past MRCA President Dato’ Tay Sim Kim, set up the MRCA Branding Education Charity Foundation in 2010 with the RM1 million fund raised. With the set-up of this foundation, the MRCA was determined to give back to society through visitations and donations to charitable homes and the needy.

One of foundation’s main objectives is to give back to the community, and in conjunction with the Hari Raya Aidilfitri celebration this year, the MRCA Branding Education Charity Foundation visited Pertubuhan Kebajikan Nur Hati in Ampang. Pertubuhan Kebajikan Nur Hati is a charitable home for care and protection of abandoned children, single mothers and the elderly.

The charity visit was welcomed

by En Mohammad Zaid bin Mohamad Shah, Chairman of Pertubuhan Kebajikan Nur Hati. The donation handover ceremony was attended by the MRCA Branding Education Charity Foundation Chairman Datuk Seri Nelson Kwok, MRCA Foundation Founder Chairman

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Dato’ Tay Sim Kim, Head of MRCA CSR Jordan Ng and MRCA Council Members.

Datuk Seri Nelson spoke on the importance of goal setting in life in order to inspire the young people present. He advised them to learn well and put every opportunity to task. This will enable them to unleash their full potential. Goal setting is one way to prioritise the important things and to get them done. If carried out well, one can be successful in all that they do.

The MRCA Branding Education Charity Foundation donated a total of RM20,000 in cash, groceries, stationeries, school bags, health products, electrical items, baby milk formula and baby products to the home and the children.

The foundation hopes that with this visit and the donations it can promote awareness in the community on the importance of reaching out and helping the less fortunate and underprivileged.

“With the blessings we receive we should always strive to give back to the community from time to time to show our love and support towards society,” said Datuk Seri Nelson. Q

The MRCA Branding Education Charity Foundation Trustees are: 1. Dato’ Tay Sim Kim, Founder Chairman 2. Datuk Seri Nelson Kwok JP, Foundation Chairman of MRCA Branding Education Charity Foundation 2022 – 2024 3. Dato’ Eddie Choon 4. Datuk Albert Chiang 5. Datuk Lee Hwa Cheng 6. Dato’ Liaw Choon Liang JP 7. Datuk Seri Garry Chua

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Selling with Consciousness by Olivia Lee livia Lee dubbed The Casino Queen and a multiple award winner, presents a manuscript that details the intrinsic success factors of selling. Tapping into the inner power of selling, as she puts it, Olivia outlines, selling with consciousness, sustaining the motivation to sell and the forging ahead through successful selling.

Described as passionate, committed, self-driven, selfmotivated and responsible individual, Olivia began her career in the Malaysian stockbroking industry. Subsequently, she joined Mega Fortis in 2002 and has since become a formidable driving force in her company’s business of supplying to casinos and resorts. A major

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contributor in her organisation, Olivia has been able to tap on her inner strengths to deliver business results as well as achieve personal successes.

During the book launch, Datuk Seri Garry Chua said that book resonated with him as sales was a subject that is close to his heart. “I agree with many of points that Olivia mentioned. The book is not only about selling but embodies many interesting elements within its pages including synergy between body, mind and soul and the spirituality of it,” added Datuk Seri Garry.

In her book, she explains about her experiences that have shaped her mindset and thought processes, and advises readers on the amazing power of consciousness in

harnessing one’s best traits. Sharing her experiences and insights gained over a period of 20 years to achieve top sales and success, Olivia believes that everyone is empowered to do as well. This book unlocks Olivia’s top success factors and key drivers in achieving success in sales. Q

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