Tag: Malaysia

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – Hepmil Media Group in Malaysia has announced new additions to its local leadership team, which includes Stephanie Looi as its country general manager, and Nur Liyana Abdul Latip as business development director. It is worth noting that both are recently coming from Astro, with Stephanie recently as its head of digital solutions while Liyana was recently a digital sales manager.

In a LinkedIn post, Karl Mak, co-founder and CEO of Hepmil Media Group stated that after a few quiet years without significant investments or announcements, these senior hires mark a new chapter for HEPMIL Malaysia.

MARKETECH APAC recently caught up with Stephanie and Liyana to better understand their new roles, as well as hearing their insights on various trends and opportunities awaiting brands in terms of tapping into social media opportunities and strategies.

Understanding key responsibilities

In her capacity as country general manager, Stephanie has shared that her primary responsibility is to drive growth and expand their presence in the Malaysian market. This includes overseeing local operations, managing the creators’ network, building partnerships with brands and agencies, and ensuring their business objectives align with market trends.

“I will also focus on tailoring our content strategies to resonate with Malaysian audiences while scaling our platform’s reach and influence. We aim to continuously drive innovation. One of the products we aim to launch in the next quarter would be social commerce with livestream shopping,” she explained.

Meanwhile, Liyana stated that in her role as business development director for Hepmil Media in Malaysia, her key responsibility is to increase their clientele and identify new business opportunities by developing social content strategies across agencies and brands. 

“As our core businesses are MGAG and HCN, the task at hand is to ensure these 2 products of ours are on top of mind when the brands are planning their social campaigns. As we are growing our Hepmil Creators’ Network in Malaysia, my responsibility is also to oversee onboarding and build rapport with up-and-coming new creators to work with us and together create award-winning campaigns for our clients,” she explained.

On implementing strategies related to new leadership role

For Liyana, her focus in her role lies into making sure the content they make for clients is relevant and in the end, making sure it’s engaging for the target audience.

“Having products that speak well to the youngsters, the strategy is to ensure the content is relevant to our client as well. We want to create partnerships with creators and brands that creates engaging content that at the end of the day is memorable for the target audience. Additionally, with the social commerce strategy that we aim to start soon, it will give us the additional benefits and clients can explore beyond the biddable media too,” she said.

Meanwhile, Stephanie stressed that they plan to implement strategies that cater to both creators and brands, ensuring that we are an essential bridge between the two. Moreover, they aim to localise content and campaigns and integrate social commerce as part of this consumer journey. 

“When consumers come across engaging content from creators they trust, it generates authentic brand awareness and builds credibility. These creators act as influencers who can effectively communicate a brand’s value in a relatable way, sparking genuine interest and driving consumer intent. Through this journey, we will integrate social commerce capabilities,” she said.

Stephanie added, “We will be able to shorten the decision purchase from inspiration to transaction. Once a consumer discovers a product through creator content, they can immediately access shoppable links or embedded storefronts within the platform, allowing for a frictionless buying experience. We are also looking at enhancing this with live streaming shopping experience.

For her, this strategy not only boosts conversion rates but also enhances the overall customer experience, as the pathway from content to commerce feels natural and intuitive.

“Ultimately, the connection between discovery and purchase is strengthened, making it easier for consumers to move from interest to action, while brands gain a powerful channel to drive sales and foster long-term loyalty,” Stephanie noted.

Learnings to bring in new role

As both Stephanie and Liyana hail from Astro, both have shared their reflections on their past time at the company, and what skills they will bring to Hepmil Media Group moving forward.

“Astro gave us invaluable experience in understanding the local media landscape, content distribution, and audience behaviour. From that, I’ve learned the importance of localised content and how cultural nuances play a key role in audience engagement. Another takeaway is the power of integrated marketing, combining traditional and digital media strategies to amplify reach,” Stephanie said.

She also added, “We will bring this integrated approach to Hepmil, ensuring our offerings resonate with diverse audiences in Malaysia. Additionally, the experience of working in a rapidly evolving media environment at Astro will help us stay agile and adaptable, which is crucial in the social media space.”

Meanwhile, Liyana commented, “Astro gave me the opportunity to work in many different specialities i.e. production, content, operations and more! With many products under Astro, it allows clients to have integrated plans in their campaigns. We created content made for digital too and not just a mirroring from TV. Good thing about Astro, we are the experts for any type of demographics, we speak to everyone and clients can count on us on it.”

Addressing challenges, riding opportunities in the social media scene

For Stephanie, it is worth noting that with Malaysia, being a diverse, multiracial population, media companies need to continuously create localized content that resonates with its target audience. Moreover, they need to take into consideration cultural sensitivities that could potentially lead to backlash and brand reputation.

“Content saturation is a huge challenge too as we need to be able to stand out from the crowded media space. Another challenge would be the evolving regulation of digital content which requires us to stay vigilant,” she said.

Despite the challenges, she says that they do see significant potentials and opportunities, more specifically the rise of short-form video content, to creators, which is offering new avenues for engagement. 

“There is also strong interest in social commerce, where brands leverage social media as a direct sales channel and creators/KOLs to lead to conversion. This presents a unique opportunity to create localised and culturally relevant content, reaching a highly engaged audience,” she noted.

Liyana also seconded Stephanie’s thoughts, stating, “This ultra-short, binge-friendly micro dramas means we don’t have to commit so much of our time and it can easily consumed wherever we at. If you notice as well the casts used in the series are not celebrity level, which means it could be anyone or even our Hepmil Creators can be the face of the show, as long as the plot is attractive and can hook people to keep coming back for the next parts. Ideally, it will be fun if Hepmil Media can also produce our own vertical series through MGAG, who knows?”

Liyana also addressed the rise of social commerce where all clients wants to venture into and it works very well for SME businesses. 

“The seamless shopping experience which also leverages on influencer collaboration is definitely something Hepmil Media has been doing across regions and we hope to kickstart as soon as possible for Malaysia,” she said.

Meanwhile, Stephanie listed three key trends, including i) continued growth of short-form video content, especially on platforms like TikTok and Instagram Reels; ii) huge demand on social commerce – more consumers turn to social media for product discovery and path to purchase are made easier, and iii) AI-driven content creation and personalisation will become more prevalent, allowing for highly targeted and efficient campaigns, at a more localised content level, personalities, behaviour and preferences.

Their recent appointments follow the recent appointment of new leadership in its Singapore office, with Mak stating that expect more appointments to follow.

Singapore – TikTok is laying off hundreds of employees globally, including a significant number in Malaysia, as it shifts towards increased use of AI for content moderation, the company announced on Friday. 

Sources previously told Reuters that over 700 jobs were cut in Malaysia, though TikTok later clarified that fewer than 500 employees in the country were affected.

Most of the impacted employees worked in content moderation and were informed of their layoffs via email on Wednesday, according to anonymous sources who were not authorized to speak publicly. 

In response to media inquiries, TikTok confirmed the global layoffs, stating that several hundred employees would be affected as part of a broader plan to enhance its moderation processes.

It is also planning more retrenchments next month as it looks to consolidate some of its regional operations, one of the sources said.

“We’re making these changes as part of our ongoing efforts to further strengthen our global operating model for content moderation,” a TikTok spokesperson said in a statement.

TikTok combines both automated tools and human moderators to review content on its platform. Parent company ByteDance, which has more than 110,000 employees in over 200 cities worldwide, is reportedly planning further layoffs next month as it consolidates some regional operations, according to one of the sources.

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – Pos Malaysia has recently released a new animated brand film that showcases the company’s transformation story over the past two centuries to become more than just a post office for the populace today, and its steadfast commitment to delivering connections and improving lives.

The animated brand film is part of Pos Malaysia’s activities as it joins other postal entities globally in celebrating World Post Day 2024.

Pos Malaysia is slated to kick off the promotion of its new brand film from 9 October on various touchpoints including social media and digital billboards. This is followed by a series of activities that will be held at the post offices, with limited edition merchandise up for grabs for customers who make transactions at any of the post offices from 16 October until 31 December 2024.

Syed Faisal Albar, chairman of Pos Malaysia, said, “This short film not only pays homage to Pos Malaysia’s rich and long-standing heritage in the country but more importantly it signifies our commitment to continuously meeting the changing needs of the people of Malaysia in this digital age.”

He added, “Today, Pos Malaysia no longer just delivers mail and parcels; we now offer a variety of innovative products and services, ranging from end-to-end logistics, and aviation (ground handling), to retail and digital solutions. We have come a long way in our purpose of connecting people and businesses for a better tomorrow.”

The theme for this year’s World Post Day, “150 years of enabling communication and empowering peoples across nations”, took centre stage at the local celebration held at Pos Malaysia’s headquarters in Dayabumi Complex earlier today. The event was graced by YB Fahmi Fadzil, Minister of Communications, and YB Teo Nie Ching, Deputy Minister of Communications.

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – AirAsia brand co. (Abc.) has appointed multi-disciplinary artist Ta-ku, also known as Regan Mathews, as its new creative director. Ta-ku will spearhead the creation of solutions while overseeing AirAsia’s creative strategy.

As a renowned musician and photographer, Ta-ku brings an innovative approach to Abc.’s creative team. He will focus on forging deeper emotional connections with consumers in Southeast Asia, driving AirAsia’s mission. Ta-ku will lead this effort by crafting compelling narratives that celebrate diversity and create unforgettable experiences.

Ta-ku’s appointment aligns with Abc.’s goal of becoming a leading creative force in Southeast Asia. Considering the dynamic creative industry, Ta-ku aims to embody Abc.’s vision to heighten ints branding solutions.

As creative director of Abc., Ta-ku is also expected to champion the ASEAN region’s spirit through offering brand experiences and creative strategy. 

Abc. is known for its work across brands in aviation, aviation services, logistics, and digital industries. 

Ta-ku commented, “I’m honoured to join Abc. at such a transformative time, as the world looks to the Asean region for long-term creative leadership. Branding is more than just visuals – it’s about building deep, meaningful connections through storytelling, fostering lasting communities, and creating networks that elevate brands for the future. I’m looking forward to working with our talented team and partners to craft innovative narratives that not only resonate with our consumers but also build lasting, impactful relationships in the industries that are shaping Asean’s future.”

“With a deep connection to our Asean roots, Ta-ku, who is also of Filipino heritage, brings a powerful combination of creative vision and a passion for community-building. In line with our pillars of People, Places, and Passion, our goal is to tap onto Ta-ku’s leadership to build lasting brand loyalty and foster meaningful connections across a diverse, well-rounded media ecosystem. This marks the beginning of a new era where we champion creativity and culture across Asean, turning communities into lifelong brand advocates,” Rudy Khaw, chief executive officer of Abc. said.

In today’s digital age, where streaming platforms and television networks compete fiercely for audience attention, innovative marketing strategies are essential to make a show stand out. One approach that has gained significant traction is the use of outdoor activations—immersive, real-world experiences designed to engage fans and spark conversation. 

From pop-up installations and interactive billboards to themed events and live performances, these activations bring beloved TV series to life, allowing viewers to step into their favourite worlds. By creating memorable, on-the-ground experiences, outdoor activations not only amplify buzz around a show but also forge deeper emotional connections with audiences. 

Ahead of the release of the second season of House of the Dragon from HBO back in August this year, Malaysian entertainment company Astro teamed up with Talon Creative–as well as Mindshare and Durian Events–to launch an outdoor activation in collaboration with MRT Corp to bring the world of Westeros to life in an immersive activation takeover of the Pasar Seni MRT station.

Outdoor activation by Astro and Talon Creative for HBO’s “House of the Dragon” Season 2 at Pasar Seni MRT Station

During the campaign, fans who visited the Pasar Seni MRT station experienced a complete takeover with banners featuring the houses and character images throughout. Structures were also built to immerse fans in the world, with sculptures of dragon’s eggs and the sigil from House of the Dragon placed prominently in the main concourse. 

Moreover, fans were also able to see Westeros come to life on digital screens and interactive augmented reality and AI experiences to see what they would look like if they were in Westeros. The event also featured cosplayers dressed as House of the Dragon characters and even live performances of the show’s iconic music.

In this Top Story feature, we spoke with Benedict Tan, creative director of Talon Creative to discuss the activation’s creative direction, why this campaign relied heavily on storytelling rivalry, as well as stressing the importance of strong partnerships especially for campaigns like this.

A campaign rooted in storytelling rivalry

As House of the Dragon happens before the events of the popular Game of Thrones series, it also relied heavily on the rivalry between the various houses at Westeros. However, it’s worth noting that the challenge to get people to watch the series was due to the fallout of the last Game of Thrones season, as well as mixed reviews on the first season of House of the Dragon.

“As ‘House of the Dragon’ Season 2 fast approached, we were thinking about what the barriers in getting people to watch would be. Didn’t it already have a following? Wasn’t there enough excitement surrounding its return? And then it hit us. Season 8 of ‘Game of Thrones’ received a fair bit of backlash and Season 1 of ‘House of the Dragon;’ didn’t do anything to improve the perception of the Game of Thrones/House of the Dragon universe. The problem was people were starting to lose faith in the franchise,” Tan noted.

Traingoers, as well as as KOLs dressing up as the series’ characters, during the campaign execution

For them at Talon Creative, Tan stated that they decided that the campaign needed to remind people of the lore and wonder of dragons and mad kings. Moreover, they gave people an opportunity to not just immerse themselves virtually, but physically; with tangibility.

Before they were able to launch the activation, he stated that the team had to address several questions.

“As we looked back at the fandom during the Game of Thrones era, we also realised that rivalries drive conversations. Were you team Stark or Lannister? Does Jon Snow REALLY know nothing? Is Khaleesi the one true queen of the Iron Throne?,” he said.

With these questions in mind–and in true Game of Thrones/House of the Dragon fashion, the campaign continued to fuel rivalry between the fans of different houses by adding to the theme of ‘HOTD S2: All Must Choose.’ This then rallied the consumers to pledge their allegiance, whether they are #TeamBlack versus #TeamGreen, alluding to the two factions created from the fraction of House Targaryen.

Outdoor activations still matter for entertainment brands

Despite how many of us are more focused on our digital lifestyles–which includes watching our favourite series or movies online–having campaigns that take you right into the real-world is much more fulfilling, Tan notes.

“Outdoor activations become a platform to solidify or strengthen the bond and affinity of the consumer towards a brand/product/service. You can always tell them what’s good. But it’s always better to demonstrate what’s great. Outdoor activation lets consumers experience it for themselves. Plus, entertainment should be media agnostic,” he said.

In the case of this campaign for Astro’s streaming of ‘House of the Dragon’, Talon Creative worked with MRT (media owner) and Mindshare (media agency) as they helped to amplify the idea into an interactive one at Pasar Seni MRT station.

“[This] allowed consumers to take a piece of memorabilia back with them. Declare your house allegiance at the specially designed House of the Dragon booth, where you can get your picture taken with an interactive iPad that transforms you into a House of the Dragon character and take it home as a memento,” he explained.

Part of the campaign execution as well is the ‘takeover’ of several buildings donning the banners of rivalry between the two factions of the series

Tan also highlighted the importance of key opinion leaders (KOLs) during the activation execution, which included cosplayers who dressed as their favourite character from the series.

“Through our partnership with Mindshare and MRT, we were able to secure a Legion of KOLs to be a part the HOTD universe, rallying their own fan-base to pledge their allegiance to #TeamBlack or #TeamGreen. This ultimately saw fans coming together at the Concourse Area MRT Pasar Seni, for a finale showdown; because All Must Choose!,” he remarked.

For another part of the campaign, the so-called ‘The Finale Showdown’ on August 3 was further amplified via radio announcers – Anne & Zher from Hitz FM, and RD & Q from Mix FM.

Lastly, they had also initiated a series of surrealism contents, which ‘erected’ various flags of #TeamBlack and #TeamGreen, amongst them being in KLCC, and TRX, announcing the arrival of House of the Dragon Season 2.

Impact and advice on the campaign

Launching an outdoor activation at a busy train station like the Pasar Seni MRT had a significant impact, and capitalised on the high foot traffic of around 400,000 people. With the station seeing an average of 800,000 monthly tap-ins from MRT users, the activation reached approximately 50% of this audience, engaging 400,000 participants. 

The activation also featured interactive elements such as photo prints and pledges, which saw 1,467 engagements, while reward redemption drew 555 participants. This demonstrates the effectiveness of leveraging high-traffic locations like train stations to drive awareness and engagement, offering a highly visible platform to connect with a wide audience in real time.

When asked what advice he can give for brands doing outdoor activations, he highlighted the importance of strong industry partnerships.

“Partnerships matter. You can always think of a great idea. But that great idea will die a slow death if you don’t have the right partners to advise and help see it come to fruition. Reach out, speak to people, understand the feasibility early on. And once the right partners are in place, it’ll be easier to execute,” he concluded.

***

By taking the fantasy world of Westeros into real-life locations, the activation done by Talon Creative bridged the gap between viewers and the show’s universe, creating memorable, immersive experiences that go beyond the screen. In a crowded entertainment landscape, such activations not only elevate the show’s profile but also create lasting impressions that resonate long after the campaign ends, solidifying viewer loyalty and driving sustained interest.

Malaysia – OH!SOME, the one-stop retail brand, has officially launched in Malaysia with new stores at AEON Bandar Dato Onn in Johor Bahru and AEON Mall in Taiping.

Originating in Singapore, OH!SOME takes its name from the English word “awesome” and aims to elevate consumers’ shopping experiences by offering high-quality products that promote a happier life.

The newly opened stores in Malaysia showcase the brand’s signature yellow color and a variety of themed elements, promising an immersive shopping experience across more than 1,000 square meters. With over 10,000 trendy lifestyle products on offer, these stores aim to ignite a new shopping trend for consumers in urban areas.

OH!SOME features 15 categories of global products, including beauty, trendy toys, snacks, accessories, and 3C items to meet everyday needs. Disney fans can also find merchandise featuring beloved characters like Donald Duck and Stitch in-store.

Beginning in October, OH!SOME will also roll out new product collections showcasing beloved Pixar characters, including the fluffy villain Lotso, the adorable Alien from Toy Story, the heroic Buzz Lightyear, and the fun-loving Red Panda Mei from Turning Red. Shoppers can look forward to a delightful selection of items, including bags, accessories, cups, and plush toys.

In their official press release, the brand stated, “So far, OH!SOME has opened in two major Malaysian cities, Johor Bahru and Taiping. A new store is expected to open in Kuala Lumpur this December. In the future, OH!SOME plans to expand further across Malaysia and Singapore, bringing even more exciting products and collaborations, ensuring every visit is full of new discoveries.”

OH!SOME has become popular in Indonesia for its diverse, innovative products and immersive shopping experience. The brand is now expanding into more Southeast Asian countries to cultivate a fresh and diverse consumer base in emerging markets.

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – Oracle has announced plans to invest more than US$6.5b to open a public cloud region in the country. The upcoming cloud region will enable Oracle customers and partners in Malaysia to leverage AI infrastructure and services and migrate mission-critical workloads to Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI).

The planned public cloud region will help organisations in Malaysia modernise their applications, migrate all types of workloads to the cloud, and innovate with data, analytics, and AI. 

With this, customers can have access to OCI Generative AI Agents with retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) capabilities; accelerated computing and generative AI services to help keep sovereign AI models within country borders; and OCI Supercluster, the largest AI supercomputer in the cloud.

Moreover, with the planned public cloud region in Malaysia, customers and partners can gain low-latency access to cloud services to help them derive better value from their data and securely store data and run applications to help address regulations and requirements for data residency within Malaysia. 

In addition, OCI’s sovereign AI capabilities provide customers with increased control over where they locate their data and computing infrastructure and how they manage it. As a result, customers can achieve AI sovereignty by gaining the assurance that their use of AI is aligned with digital sovereignty frameworks.

YB Senator Tengku Datuk Seri Utama Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz, minister of investment, trade and industry (MITI), Malaysia, said, “We warmly welcome Oracle’s US$6.5b investment in Malaysia, which represents yet another expansion of their 36-year footprint in Malaysia. This investment will empower Malaysian entities, especially small and medium-sized enterprises, with innovative and cutting-edge AI and cloud technologies to enhance their global competitiveness.”

He added, “It is also a significant step towards realising the country’s New Industrial Master Plan’s ambitious vision of creating 3,000 smart factories by 2030. Oracle’s decision to establish a public cloud region in Malaysia underscores Malaysia’s infrastructure readiness, and its growing position as a premier Southeast Asian destination for digital investments.”

Meanwhile, Garrett Ilg, executive vice president and general manager, Japan & Asia Pacific, Oracle, commented, “Malaysia offers unique growth opportunities for organizations looking to accelerate their expansion with the latest digital technologies. Our multi-billion dollar investment affirms our commitment to Malaysia as a regional gateway for cloud infrastructure as well as a comprehensive suite of SaaS applications deployed within Malaysia.” 

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – Astro has tapped Talon Creative to give the visually impaired a chance to experience the recently-concluded ‘Dari Mata Turun ke Hati’ drama series using an enhanced streaming experience for them.

Astro and Talon saw an opportunity to reach out to the visually impaired community and provide them with an enhanced streaming experience with the groundbreaking first locally produced Audio Description track for a Malay drama. This track provided verbal descriptors of the show, interwoven with the dialogue, allowing visually impaired viewers to experience the narrative of the show and fully immerse themselves in the content. 

For context, the drama series–a story adapted from Japan and brought closer to local culture–tells a story of Iris Sofea, a visually impaired young woman and Jai, a gangster, portrayed respectively by up and coming Malaysian stars in Arabella Ellen and Mierul Aiman. 

‘Dari Mata Turun Ke Hati’ is the first drama in Malaysia to introduce the Audio Description feature. 

As part of the initiative as well, it also translated into the creation of social media posts that mimicked the visually impaired Iris Sofea’s experience, giving the audience a glimpse into her world, bringing the visually impaired community and general public closer together.

Malaysia is home to some of the best local content, featuring high production quality and impeccable storytelling. Unfortunately, not all Malaysians are able to enjoy these home-grown stories, with over 400,000 Malaysians experiencing visual impairment, with 10-15% experiencing total sight loss.

Tai Kam Leong, chief sales and marketing officer at Astro, said, “As Malaysia’s leading media company, we believe that everyone deserves an opportunity to enjoy the magic of storytelling. Leaning into our technological expertise, we wanted to make our content more inclusive and accessible to all viewers, especially those with visual impairments. That’s why we’re excited to produce 480 minutes of the Audio Description track for Dari Mata Turun Ke Hati to enhance the viewing experience for our audience, thus contributing to a more equitable and inclusive entertainment industry.”

Meanwhile, Erman Basiron, creative director at Talon Creative noted “Working on this campaign for this show gave us insight into a point of view we never considered. How do the visually impaired experience life? How do they consume content and media? It wasn’t just about highlighting their plight; it was a real opportunity to give society a look into a completely different paradigm of life.”

Astro has continued to signal its intent of championing inclusivity. Past efforts have seen Astro collaborate with the Malaysian Association for the Blind during the month of Merdeka. The initiative brought Miss Nurin Amalin binti Ishak, a para-athlete who has been blind since she was 10 years old to feel the braille of the Malaysian flag. This enabled her to experience the flow of the flag, its story, colours, and elements. More importantly, it gave hope to the blind that they too can experience the full spirit of what a Merdeka celebration is.

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – A new study by Infobip has recently revealed the distinct preferences of different generations when interacting with businesses ahead of the Singles’ Day shopping promotions.

While 86% of consumers across all age groups expect targeted messages, this research shows the importance of tailoring strategies to each generation’s unique preferences.

The report also reveals that Baby Boomers desire more varied communications while 73% of Gen X prefer receiving product updates. 

The younger generations, millennials and Gen Z, are more open to new communication channels such as chatbots. Additionally, 83% of Gen Z desire brands to understand them, with 65% wanting a two-way dialogue with brands.

With millions of consumers shopping online, retailers need to increase customer retention to boost profits. The preference for online shopping also provides retailers the opportunity to strengthen their brand presence.

Ivan Ostojić, chief business officer at Infobip, said, “Our research shows that most shoppers, no matter their age, want brands to engage with them like with a friend through conversational channels and say it will increase their loyalty. However, brands must get customer communications right to enhance loyalty and grow sales. That’s why Infobip has analysed what each generation prefers and published a new report and a playbook to help retailers and e-commerce firms make the most of the shopping season.”

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – Boost Bank has announced the upcoming launch of its SME financing services in early October. This underscores the bank’s commitment in driving financial empowerment and inclusivity for both SMEs and MSMEs across the nation.

The financing offerings include two key financial products: ‘Term Loan’ and ‘Revolving Credit.’ Its SME financing solutions offer a seamless application process with minimal documentation, no hidden fees, and loan amounts from RM50,000. With fast loan processing, businesses can receive access to capital when it is needed most. These loans are also designed to provide flexible financial solutions that cater to the diverse needs of Malaysian SMEs to grow and thrive.

The ‘Term Loan’ facility offers a tenure of up to 36 months, with no early settlement fees—allowing businesses to effectively manage their cash flow. Flexible repayment options ensure that businesses can repay early, without any penalty, whenever it suits their business cycle. 

Meanwhile, the ‘Revolving Credit’ facility provides swift access to funds, empowering businesses to quickly respond to opportunities and challenges with financial confidence. This product is designed to adapt to the unique financial needs of each SME, rather than a one-size-fits-all approach.

Fozia Amanulla, CEO of Boost Bank, said, “At Boost Bank, we are on a mission to transform financial inclusion and spark lasting impact for Malaysia’s underserved communities. By harnessing cutting-edge digital innovation and our dynamic fintech ecosystem, we’re not just offering financial products—we’re building a platform that empowers SMEs to break through barriers and unlock their true potential. Our SME Financing solutions are designed to be swift, flexible, and accessible, giving small businesses the crucial boost they need to thrive and fuel their success across the nation.”

Meanwhile, Sheyantha Abeykoon, group CEO of Boost, commented, “As we continue to build the foundation for a fully integrated digital financial ecosystem, the launch of our SME Financing solutions marks a pivotal moment in our journey. SMEs are not just the backbone of Malaysia’s economy; they are the engine of innovation, growth, and resilience.”

He added, “At Boost, we believe in empowering businesses through digital innovation, and this initiative is a testament to our ongoing commitment to fostering financial inclusivity and sustainable growth for the underserved sectors of the economy. This is not just about providing loans, but about partnering with SMEs to fuel their long-term success and contribute to Malaysia’s broader economic transformation.”

Businesses looking to explore Boost Bank’s SME Financing solutions are encouraged to register their interest here. Boost Bank will also assess applications based on specific criteria, and eligible customers will be contacted directly to discuss financing opportunities tailored to their needs.