Where retail people get recognised for excellent service

Representatives of the 242 retail outlets receiving the accredited certficates for 2008/09

Recipients of the certificate of excellence gather for a shot with others

Parkson Pavilion bagged the overall Best Retail Outlet trophy and certificate for excellence. From left: Minister of domestic trade and consumers affairs Dato' Shahrir Abdul Samad and MRA president Eddy Chan

Ricky Soon (right) receiving the award for the phamacy category from Dato' Shahrir

CK Tan (right), the recipient for the speciality store category

Where retail people get recognised
Text by Laura Lee, Photos by Anthony Tan

Malaysia Retailers Association (MRA) president Eddy Chan reminded the retail fraternity that they would need each other even more in the future development of their industry at its recent16th annual dinner 2008, which was attended by close to 2,000 retailers and their business partners.

His speech echoed what had been highlighted at the recent Council of Asian Shopping Centres (CASC) conference 2008 about this year being an “extremely challenging year”.

Global economic conditions have also dramatically changed the whole world’s business environment, including our retail industry.

Chan, who is also Sogo (KL) Department Store Sdn Bhd chief executive officer, said in recent months, words like credit crunch, global financial crisis and turmoil have been splashed across the front page of the local media. Although the price of crude oil has declined recently, the worse may not be over yet.

(As at press time, the price of crude oil has dipped below US$55 per barrel, the lowest in three years.)

He added that countries like Singapore and Germany had declared that they are in recession. Many may follow suit soon. Many countries also lamented on the high rate of inflation and rising unemployment as the main cause of their predicaments.

“Malaysia, being a relatively small country, and as resilient as we seem to be, may not be spared from the negative impact of the unfavourable external forces. Let us hope that we can sustain our business as long as we can.

While MRA has forecast that retail industry growth rate for 2008 be revised downwards to about 4% to 5%, Chan said the association “will continue to play its role in collaborating, converging and diverting the focus of feasible solutions in a unified voice to the relevant authorities”.

It will work closely with them to bring about improved retail sentiments and amicable solutions.

“We appeal to the government to provide more incentives such as tax relief for store refurbishments, preferential or off-peak electricity tariffs, etc to the retail industry in supporting and encouraging our quest in lowering operating costs, which in turn, will help retailers to overcome and survive in these very tough and difficult market conditions.”

While applauding the ministry of domestic trade and consumer affairs on its price reduction campaign, Chan said the retailers would only be able to reduce prices at their respective stores if they get price reductions from their manufacturers and suppliers.

Calling this a collective corporate social responsibility, he said, “All of us have a role to play to support the government and make this price reduction campaign a really successful one.”

The 242 retail outlets, which participated in the sixth MRA “Retail Service & Courtesy” Standards of Excellence Accreditation Programme 2008/09, received their accreditation last night from the minister of domestic trade and consumers affairs Dato’ Shahrir Abdul Samad.

Among them, 12 received certificates of merit. They are:

* Royal Selangor The Gardens and Light Street outlets,
* Parkson Subang Parade and KLCC outlets,
* Mydin Wholesale Hypermarket USJ Subang Jaya and Kuala Terengganu outlets,
* Guardian Jalan Dato’ Sheikh (Seremban) and Taman Nusa Bistari outlets,
* Habib Semua House and Queensbay Mall outlets, and
* Jusco Bukit Tinggi and Permas Jaya outlets.

Six certificates of excellence were also given out for different categories.

* Parkson Pavilion, which won the department store category, also bagged the

Overall Best Retail Outlet. Its store general manager (GM) Kam Siew Kheong

received the certification.
* The fashion and fashion accessory category was clinched by Smart Connexion

One Utama.
* The pharmacy category, which went to Guardian Giant Taiping, was received by

GCH Retail (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd operations GM, Ricky Soon.
* Marks & Spencer The Gardens emerged the winner for the speciality store

category. Its store manager CK Tan received the award.
* The hypermarket category won by Tesco Ampang was received by its store

general manager Gunasegaran Narayansamy.
* The supermarket category was won by Jusco Seremban 2. Its store manager

Heng Ai Ling braved through the after office hours' traffic to receive the Best

Supermarket award.

As one of the judges and a media personnel, I am privileged to bring you this piece of news first hand as no media was invited to the dinner and awards function on 21 November, 2008.

Incidentally, both the CASC and MRA annual dinner chose One World Hotel’s Imperial Ballroom as the preferred venue for their functions.

According to Dato’ Shahrir’s speech delivered earlier at MRA dinner, the Malaysian retail industry recorded a relatively strong growth of 12.1% in sales for the first quarter of 2008 compared to the same period last year.

“Despite the energy and food crisis that have been affecting the average Malaysian consumers, the performance for the first six months of 2008 was much higher than the earlier estimate of 8.4% made by retailers a few months ago. It is the ministry fervent hope that the retail industry will continue to register higher growth rate for the balance of the year,” he added.

I found MRA’s website, www.mra.com.my, to contain outdated information. Reason given by its staff is that the website is under construction.

Get a taste of Korea Sparkling

Enthralling traditional Korean dance performance.

Z G Nan Fang Holidays executive director Annie Ng beaming with delight with the recognition from KTO.

Recognition also went to Klang Valley Travel & Tours (M) MD K P Loo for outstanding effort and cooperation in promoting Korea.

KTO president and CEO Oh (left) presenting the award to Golden TourWorld Travel (M) MD Jason Lim who has been selling Korea for more than nine years.


Azizan (in batik) at the opening of Korea Plaza.

Ko (left) and Kim are the two signatories for the MoU.

Get a taste of Korea Sparkling
Text and photos by Anthony Tan

Korea Tourism Organisation (KTO) is certainly reinforcing its efforts to attract more Malaysians to visit Korea with its aggressive campaigns.

It is working with Korea’s industrial giant LG Electronics, a global leader and technology innovator in consumer electronics, home appliances and mobile communications, to bring from the land whose popular drama series such as Winter Sonata and Jewel in the Palace have won the hearts of many Asians.

The collaboration between the two resulted in the setting up of Korea’s one-stop tourism and culture centre, Korea Plaza, which will also be used as a strategic base for public relations and marketing activities of Korea’s travel industries and related organisations.

At the recent signing ceremony of the memorandum of understanding (MoU) between them in Kuala Lumpur, LG Electronics (M) Sdn Bhd managing director (MD) and chief executive officer (CEO) TY Ko said, “This is indeed a great platform for us to showcase and further expose LG’s stylish-designed and smart technology products such as our award winning liquid crystal display televisions, finely tuned home theatre systems, DVD players and mobile phones, which we will be providing to KTO as part of the promotion.”

You will get a chance to win attractive LG products when purchasing tour packages to Korea.

KTO MD Kim Kee Hun said, “It is very appropriate that LG has come in to help us with our promotions as they are one of the largest corporations in South Korea and are globally renowned for their outstanding products.”

Korea Plaza was officially opened on 6 November at Menara Hup Seng. Strategically sited within the golden triangle of Kuala Lumpur, the centre will be a convenient place to drop in for insight into Korea’s many attractions and its way of life.

You will not only find publications on Korea here but will also get to see on display things like Korean traditional attire and shoes, tea set and much more.
KTO president and CEO Oh Jee-Chul said Korea Plaza would be instrumental in promoting South Korea as a holiday destination for Malaysians. Last year, 83,000 Malaysians visited South Korea.

There has been a gradual increase in Korean arrivals to Malaysia. Tourism Malaysia website, www.tourism.gov.my under Facts & Figures showed that 233,697 North and South Koreans visited Malaysia last year, up from 194,404 in 2006.

Its latest statistics for South Korean arrivals to Malaysia in October rose 42% to 19,257 compared to October 2007. In fact, from February to October this year, the monthly figures for South Korea have been higher compared to the previous corresponding months of 2007.

KTO certainly invited the right Tourism Malaysia official to grace this auspicious event, which was later followed by Korea Tourism Night celebration with the travel trade and media.

He is none other than Tourism Malaysia acting deputy director general (1) Azizan Noordin, who had served as Korea regional director in Seoul.

KTO also had Korea Muslim Federation secretary-general-cum-imam A Rahman Lee Ju Hwa to brief the travel trade on the 135,000 Muslims residing in South Korea.

“There were quite a number of Malaysians, Arabs, Indonesians and Pakistani Muslims living in South Korea. The history of Islam in South Korea dates back some 50 years.

“The Koreans have acquired a better understanding of halal food and Muslim customs. South Korea has 10 mosques and 60 mussolahs or prayer rooms. Previously, you would not be able to find a musollah in South Korea,” he said.

Also present at Korea Tourism Night were two local celebrities: Popular Malay singer Mawi, KTO’s honorary ambassador for 2007-08 and My FM deejay Pheobe Yap, KTO’s new honorary ambassador for 2009-10.

The duo sang to entertain the guests with popular numbers. Yap also shared with the audience the experience of her recent visit to South Korea. The specially flown in Kim Joong Ja Folk Dancing Group, Korea’s famous traditional dance troupe, was the highlight of the entertainment that night.

Seven top travel agencies selling Korea’s destinations were also honoured that night. They are:

Malaysian Harmony Tour & Travel Sdn Bhd
Apple Vacations & Conventions Sdn Bhd
Golden TourWorld Travel (M) Sdn Bhd
Klang ValleyTravel & Tours (M) Sdn Bhd
Z G Nan Fang Holidays (M) Sdn Bhd
Premium Tours & Travel Sdn Bhd
Reliance Shipping & Travel Agencies Sdn Bhd

For more of the Korean experience, check out An Enchanting Evening with the Korean Goguryo Orchestra performance on 4 December at 8pm at Dewan Sri Pinang, Lebuh Light in Penang. The show will feature cultural dances and folk songs by a 20-member cast. KTO is one of the presenters for this charity event.

Air Nuigini’s inaugural flight will enhance connectivity at KLIA

Air Nuigini’s inaugural flight will enhance connectivity at KLIA
Text and photos by Anthony Tan

Malaysia is now connected by air with Papua New Guinea (PNG) effective 29 October with the introduction of Air Nuigini’s weekly non-stop flight every Wednesday.

PNG’s national airline, established since 1973, is using the Boeing 757 aircraft with 189-seat configuration for its flight to the KL International Airport (KLIA).
The flight will depart Port Moresby at 3 pm and lands at KLIA at 7.10 pm (Malaysian time). The total flight duration is six hours and 10 minutes.

The same aircraft will have one hour turnaround time before it departs for Port Moresby at 8.10 pm and arrives at 4.20am (PNG time).

In Malaysia Airports Bhd (MAB) managing director Dato’ Seri Bashir Ahmad’s speech, which was read out by KLIA general manager Datuk Murad Azmi, PNG is viewed as a new market with Air Nuigini being the first airline offering connections from the Pacific Islands in the Oceania region to Malaysia.

Air Nuigini will be entitled to MAB’s incentive programme to ensure that its operation is smooth and fruitful. It is hoped that more airlines from the region will fly to Malaysia.

Welcoming the inaugural flight at the KLIA were the PNG High Commissioner His Excellency Veali Vagi, PNG’s minister for state assisting the prime minister on constitutional affair Honourable Philemon Embei and Malaysia’s deputy transport minister Datuk Seri Panglima Lajim Ukim.

Also present were Air Nuigini’s general sales agent, Abadi Aviation Services Sdn Bhd’s chairman NY Lai and general manager Henry Goh, officials from MAB, Malaysia Airlines and Tourism Malaysia.

Air Niugini chief executive officer Wasantha Kumarasiri said the national flag carrier’s service to Kuala Lumpur would help ease capacity shortage experienced in its Port Moresby to Singapore flights. He anticipates the airline to achieve 50% load initially and reach 60% to 70% load factor within two to three months. He expects 20% to 30% of the passengers to use KLIA as a transit point for onwards flight to other Asian destinations (such as India and Sri Lanka) and European cities like Frankfurt and London.

Kumarasiri said the flight from Port Moresby to KLIA had been designed to provide greater connectivity with less than three hours transit time to connect to their onwards destinations to Europe.

The other new Air Nuigini flights that were launched that day were the direct service to Hong Kong every Monday and the additional flight to Honiara in the Solomon Islands on Wednesday. These extra flights will allow passengers to fly from Manila and Hong Kong to Honiara and those from Honiara to Kuala Lumpur.
Presently, the airline operates once a week to Hong Kong via Manila while it flies to Honiara on Friday and Sunday and continue its onward flight to Nadi in Fiji.

With Air Nuigini flying to Malaysia, Tourism Malaysia director of communication division Wan Zawawi Mohamed expects the tourist traffic to open up new destinations between the Pacific Islands and ASEAN. This will be mutually beneficial to both PNG and Malaysia as the gateways of these respective regions.

A cocktail party was held with Malaysia’s travel trade industry the next evening at one of the leading hotels in Kuala Lumpur to celebrate Air Nuigini’s inaugural flight. The guests had the opportunity to sample some of the PNG’s cuisine.