By The Malketeer When Malaysia last hosted Visit Malaysia Year, the campaign leaned heavily on festivals, discounts, and photo opportunities. VM2026, however, arrives at a very different moment. We are looking at a tourism ecosystem that is both more competitive and more fragile. Costs are rising, labour is short, the
In a development that has caught the industry’s attention, Santharuban Thurai Sundaram, the game-changing CEO of the Etika Group of Companies, has tendered his resignation. He will serve out his term until March 2026, marking four years as CEO. His departure brings an unexpected close to a leadership era that
Malaysia’s retail sector faced a challenging second quarter of 2025 as higher living costs, import-driven price hikes, and global trade tensions dampened consumer spending. According to the latest Malaysia Retail Industry Report, retail sales contracted 3.0% year-on-year compared to a 0.6% growth in the same period of 2024, missing market
FWD Takaful has appointed Siti Hajar Rizlan as its new Chief Marketing Officer, effective 1 October 2025. She brings with her more than two decades of experience in marketing and brand leadership, particularly in the financial services sector. Siti Hajar joins the company from Takaful Malaysia, where she spearheaded award-winning
Next week’s RON95 price reduction should, in theory, be a win for everyone. Individuals will indeed feel a small lift, as every litre pumped costs a little less. But will those savings show up in the price of goods and services you buy? Don’t hold your breath; you might need
In today’s world, the only currency that matters is attention. You can buy impressions and chase clicks, but none of it matters if people aren’t truly paying attention. And once you have it, the real question begins: what do you do with it? That’s the line between popularity and influence
What’s the secret to being a beloved Malaysian brand for nearly three decades? If you ask Secret Recipe, it’s that there really is no secret. Since 1997, the iconic brand has been serving up more than just slices of cake, quietly perfecting the art of staying relevant, irresistible, and everywhere.
By The Malketeer When a homegrown brand starts plotting its first moves into North Africa and South Asia, it’s no longer a “local chain” story — it’s a case study in ambition. Zus Coffee, Malaysia’s fastest-growing coffee chain, is doing exactly that. Co-founder and COO Venon Tian has confirmed plans
Japan’s iconic Kirin Brewery is making Malaysia its Southeast Asian command centre, signalling an ambitious push to win over a region where demand for quality alcoholic beverages continues to climb. The new Kuala Lumpur hub, set to open next month, gives Kirin the agility to spot local trends and launch
By The Malketeer VML’s Future Shopper 2025 shows APAC consumers demanding instant delivery, seamless journeys and genuine personalisation Shoppers in Asia-Pacific are no longer patiently clicking through clunky checkouts. VML’s latest Future Shopper 2025 report shows they’ve raced ahead – and too many brands are still stuck on the starting line. Across
