Who won the RM90 million Tourism Malaysia business?

BY THE HAMMER

Your guess is as good as mine.

Welcome to Visit Malaysia Year! 

Tourism Malaysia never ceases to amaze the industry, especially when it comes to their advertising, media and digital business.. Whether it is their lightning-quick tender process, shortlisting science, logo designs or the way they award  contracts, they know how to hit the headlines.

Last April they opened the overall tender for marketing communications and a call for RFP in August; shortlisted companies presented in January this year. And this week they announced the winners of their account: 

– Proven communications agency with a sterling track record, M&C Saatchi Malaysia, has been awarded the marketing and advertising digital business for the Europe market in a nine months contract worth RM3 million. They also picked up the music video project for the Visit Truly Asia Malaysia 2020 campaign worth a little over RM1 million. 

– A global leader in market research, Ipsos Sdn Bhd, has won the market research services assignment to track the effectiveness of Visit Malaysia 2020 communications campaigns, for a fee of almost RM1 million. 

– Sundata Sdn Bhd, a bumiputera holding company that started operating in 2005 and provides various ink and toner cartridges services has cliched the contract to provide desktop computers to be used by Tourism Malaysia officials and personnel worth a little over RM700,000.

So far, so good. 

Now come the mysterious methods that have trademarked this government agency for as long as I can remember…..

The IO Movement Sdn Bhd, a relatively unknown brand consultancy that provides public relations and communications services, has been contracted to handle the entire global advertising and promotions mandate for Tourism Malaysia worth almost RM90 million!

Their Twitter handle describes them as an ensemble of thinkers, strategists, creatives and perfectionists – unique individuals from different backgrounds – who love to solve problems. Shareholders of The IO Movement are Rachel Chew Kay Leng Omar (90%) and Tunku Izrina M. Tunku Iskandar (10%). 

Anyone who knows anything more about this company please email me, because Google search has zilch on it.

To all bona fide communications agencies who pitched for the business, try to enjoy your weekend. 

Shit happens!