automobile – Inspirasi Media Online

Mercedes-Benz Malaysia Starts 2019 With 5 New Models

And they are looking forward to enhancing the brand experience with innovative mobility solutions, exciting new products and engaging experiences through customer services.

In a challenging market environment, with natural seasonality and sales-driven by new model introductions, Mercedes-Benz Malaysia (MBM) successfully delivered a total of 2,944 vehicles to customers in the first quarter of 2019 and continues to remain its position at the top premium automotive brand in Malaysia.

MBM showcased persistent strength, dominance and performance in the first quarter of 2019 with the introduction of five new variants:

E200 SPORTSTYLE Avantgarde
E 300 Exclusive
E 350 AMG Line
GLC 300 Coupe
GLE 450 AMG Line,

With the solid number of model launches, continuous enhanced customer services and experiences offered, MBM is looking forward to a challenging year ahead with its first-class customer experience as well as the introduction of an array of exciting new products to the market.

MBM President and CEO, Dr Claus Weidner said:

“We started the year with the launch of 5 new models in the first quarter of 2019. We will continue to enhance our brand experience with innovative mobility solutions, introduction of new products and engaging experiences through our customer services.

At MBM, we place high importance in offering the right mix of product and services to our existing and new customers. Our customer-centric approach will continue to provide our customers with the best service and the best customer experience. This includes continue to honour our brand promise through the various formulated service packages to ensure that our customers enjoy ultimate peace of mind throughout the entire ownership life cycle of their vehicles.”

Commenting on the Q1 performance, Mark Raine, Vice President, Sales & Marketing said,

“We remained as the number one premium market leadership position with a total of 2,944 vehicles delivered to customers in the first quarter and a best-ever sales in March with 1,334 vehicles. This was a direct contribution from the exceptional financing offer coupled with a comprehensive service packages offered.”

The first quarter of the same financial year also saw Mercedes-Benz Services Malaysia (MBSM) records a financing portfolio of over RM 2.7 billion with an increase of 0.3 billion of year-to-date growth. MBSM financed four out five Mercedes-Benz vehicles sold and 50% of them were insured by MBSM.

Over 40,000 vehicles were serviced in the first quarter of 2019 – a 13 per cent increase compared to the previous year. The positive growth volume of vehicles serviced is attributed to the extensive network of 35 dedicated dealerships nationwide.

Commenting on MBM’s outlook for the year ahead, Dr Weidner said,

“We will continue the momentum in the first quarter of 2019. We are indeed looking to introduce more upcoming premium products and we will be sharing more information in due time.”

GRAB Introduces New Regional Centre of Excellence

This Southeast Asia’s leading Online-to-Offline (O2O) mobile platform, launched its new Regional Centre of Excellence (RCoE) in its newly expanded 54,000 sq ft office space.

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The Centre of Excellence will house Grab’s core business strategy and operational functions, including legal, customer experience, financial services and creative services. This is the second showing of Grab’s strong investment back into the country where it first started, with the first being the launch of its R&D Centre in Malaysia just last month, the 7th in Grab’s global R&D footprint, to nurture Malaysia’s deep tech talents.

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The launch of its newly expanded office space was officiated by YB Datuk Ignatius Darell Leiking, Minister of International Trade and Industry.

By launching its Regional Centre of Excellence and R&D Centre in Malaysia, Grab will immediately create at least 400 new high-value jobs, bringing its total employees in Malaysia to 1,000.

The RCoE will spearhead development of an in-house pool of highly-skilled professionals who are experts in their respective domains. With Grab’s presence in 336 cities across 8 countries, they will be given the opportunity to take a regional lens in offering solutions and implementing projects.

The legal team will provide advice on regulatory, policy and legal issues that impact the entire region; the customer experience team will provide quality customer support for several countries; the creative and design team will develop creative assets for regional marketing campaigns and projects; and the financial services team will implement financial, procurement and risk management policies across all countries where Grab operate in the region.

The tech and engineering team in Malaysia’s R&D Centre will focus on building trust and safety solutions and capabilities that not only solve safety issues for citizens in Malaysia, but also across the whole of Southeast Asia. As Grab doubles down on its global investments in more advanced technology, data science, artificial intelligence and machine learning to make every ride, every delivery order, every financial transaction that takes place on our platform safer and more secure than ever before, the Malaysian tech and engineering team will play a pivotal role in setting a high bar for safety standards in Southeast Asia, and achieving our ultimate goal of zero preventable incidents on our platform.

“Malaysia is proud that it is the birthplace of a technology unicorn like Grab. Grab represents innovation, tenacity, creativity, a keen sense for business, and hard work – values that the Government aims to cultivate among Malaysian tech companies. We are happy to see Grab contributing back to Malaysia and committing to nurturing local tech talents and facilitating knowledge transfer through its R&D centre. As an everyday super app for Malaysians, Grab not only serves local transportation needs through its ride-hailing offering, but also plays a pivotal role in empowering local businesses through its delivery and payments platforms.” said Datuk Darell Leiking, Minister of International Trade and Industry at the launch.

“This is exactly what Malaysia needs to move ahead in our digital economy goals – more Malaysian companies who have done well at the global stage to heed the Ministry’s clarion call for quality investment back home to develop the nation, by creating high-value jobs and nurturing the next generation of Malaysian entrepreneurs.”

He added,

“Indeed the Government will continue to chart Malaysia’s digital transformation towards achieving greater economic prosperity and societal well-being. In this context, the National Policy on Industry 4.0 (Industry4WRD) and the National e-Commerce Strategic Roadmap (NeSR) are the key blueprints to “attract, create and transform”. In particular, this entails attracting key enabling technologies to create the right digital ecosystem; transforming the manufacturing and services sectors into “agile sectors”, and enabling Malaysian entrepreneurs to become ‘e-commerce ready’. Therefore, the Government encourages continued collaboration between the public and private sectors, in realising the action plans set out in both blueprints, for our mutual benefits.”

“Our strong investments in anchoring our Regional Centre of Excellence and latest R&D Centre in Malaysia is our response to the Malaysian government’s call for public-private partnerships to help drive Malaysia’s Industry 4.0 blueprint and digital economy ambitions. We are committed to helping Malaysia unlock greater economic gains by creating high-value jobs, nurturing deep tech talents, and attracting more Malaysians overseas to return home. We have always remembered our roots, as Malaysia is where we founded Grab almost seven years ago, with the simple goal of solving the problem of transportation safety. Now that we have grown beyond ride-hailing to become the leading SEA’s everyday super app, it is natural for us to contribute back to the country where we first started,” said Sean Goh, Country Head for Grab Malaysia.

“These investments are above and beyond our continued mission to make transportation accessible and safer for all, while at the same time, creating better income-earning opportunities for our driver and delivery partners, and enabling local businesses to leverage our user base and distribution network to earn higher business revenue. There is a lot more we can do to improve the daily lives of fellow Malaysians, and we want to partner closely with the Malaysian government to develop win-win regulations and policies that allow innovation to thrive, and best serve the interests of the larger Malaysian population”, added Sean.

Grab is committed to contributing to Malaysia’s Industry 4.0 blueprint in the following areas:
1. Shared, Seamless and Smart mobility solution for all: We will make transportation more accessible for all Malaysians. With the widest range of transportation services already readily available on our platform, we will work closely with governments, public and private transportation providers to serve the first-mile-last-mile transportation needs of Malaysians.

2. Better livelihoods and income-earning opportunities for driver-partners: 86% of our driver-partners supplement their income part-time with Grab. These driver-partners earn 37% more supplementary income with Grab, on top of their day-to-day jobs. Our GrabTaxi driver-partners also earn 10% more daily income compared to the past when they can only rely on street-hails and regular taxi bookings. We will continue to better the livelihoods of our driver-partners and offer increased income-earning opportunities, greater financial support, better technology tools and skills training, and more community activities for them and their loved ones.

3. Digital shop fronts for GrabFood, GrabRewards and GrabPay merchant partners: We will empower micro-entrepreneurs and small and medium-sized businesses to set up their digital presence on Grab app and leverage our user base and distribution network to earn higher business revenue.

4. Access to GrabPlatform to help like-minded start-ups and partners scale their business: Partners can either build their services into GrabPlatform or integrate Grab’s suite of technology and products into their own websites or apps, for example GrabPay for mobile payments, GrabExpress for logistics, or GrabProfiles for user authentication.

This will give partners direct access to Grab users and help scale their business faster.

Mercedes-Benz Performance & Achievement 2018

Mercedes-Benz Malaysia (MBM) remains the No.1 luxury lifestyle brand, invigorating fans with innovative mobility solutions, exciting products and engaging experiences.
Over MYR 1 billion invested in Malaysia since 2003, Mercedes-Benz brand reaffirms commitment to the Malaysian market and customers to deliver the Best Products and Best Customer Experiences.
Delivering all-time high performance in history with 13,079 vehicles delivered to customers, capturing a market share of 2.4% and unmatched customer services with 148,800 vehicles serviced.
Seamless end-to-end experience elevated with Mercedes-Benz Services Malaysia financing four out of every 10 vehicles, contributing to a total financing portfolio of MYR 2.7 billion.

2018 is the fifth consecutive record year for Mercedes-Benz Malaysia (MBM). The distinctive three-pointed star shined brightly in 2018 with an extraordinary performance of 13,079 vehicles sold, translating into a 9% overall growth. Capturing a 2.4 per cent market share*, the achievement cements Mercedes-Benz as the undisputed luxury lifestyle brand in Malaysia and the global arena.

MBM President and CEO, Dr Claus Weidner said: “2018 was another successful year in the 15 year-long extraordinary journey for Mercedes-Benz Malaysia and the Mercedes-Benz brand. Our efforts to invigorate the brand experience for our increasingly diverse fans have been fruitful and we are happy to retain our position as the number one luxury lifestyle brand. Our great combination of Best Products, Best Service and Best Customer Experience continues to drive the brand “success and we assure our customers and fans that this will continue to be our focus.”

He added, “Offering a seamless customer experience to our valued customers is a core value that we uphold and we believe this is important to ensure sustainability of the business. The mantra has always been about “Putting the customer at the centre of our activities.”

Commenting on the 2018 performance, Vice President of Sales and Marketing at MBM, Mark Raine said, “We are extremely proud of our history-making performance for 2018. We delivered 13,079 Mercedes-Benz Cars to customers, further cementing our position as the leading premium brand in Malaysia. Our fresh-faced product portfolio with the locally assembled Mercedes-AMG C 43 and GLC 43, and all-new Mercedes-Benz A-Class has succeeded in keeping our fans excited about the brand. Furthermore, we gave the market a taste of the future with the EQ Concept this year. We intend to keep the momentum going with more exciting events and products in 2019.”

In 2018, MBM’s performance was spearheaded by the locally produced limousines, which recorded 7,910 units sold. Following closely were the Mercedes-Benz SUVs with 2,613 units sold, particularly by the locally produced Mercedes-Benz GLC 200 and GLC 250. The German marque expects continued positive demand for this segment. The Mercedes-Benz compact cars recorded a total of 1,875 units sold, while the Mercedes-Benz Dream Cars, recorded a total of 662 units sold, a 77% growth for the three-pointed star’s brand shapers.

The 20 vehicle launches spread throughout 2018 sustained the healthy momentum of demand for Mercedes-Benz vehicles. The key launches included the locally- assembled Mercedes-AMG C 43 and GLC 43, Mercedes-AMG E 53 Sedan and Mercedes-AMG E 53 Coupé, its New Dream Cars Collection, the New Mercedes-Benz S-Class Family, and the all-new Mercedes-Benz A-Class and new generation C-Class. Additionally, MBM showcased the brand’s innovative edge with the EQ Concept premiere in Kuala Lumpur – a first in Southeast Asia. The milestone has positioned Mercedes-Benz as a reinventer of the automotive industry with the EQ brand, pioneering the direction and setting the stage for future mobility.

Going hand-in-hand with its Best Products, MBM spearheaded engaging activities to match a diverse fan base aligned to its overall Best Customer Experience commitment. MBM engaged with fans through events like Urban Hunting x ULTRA Singapore 2018, Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in Kuala Lumpur, the Mercedes Trophy and introduction of the AMG Owners Club Malaysia (AOCM) which are aimed at elevating the AMG experience with exclusive access to all things AMG for owners. Complementing the seamless ownership experience, Mercedes-Benz Services Malaysia (MBSM) recorded a steady growth in line with the three-pointed star’s progress. For the year, MBSM financed four out of every 10 Mercedes-Benz vehicles sold and has a solid servicing portfolio of MYR 2.7 billion**

MBSM’s commitment to innovative peace-of-mind financing and insurance solutions was further embodied with the introduction of new products like AgilityPlus and Lease2Go. MBM’s emphasis on upholding Best Customer Experience at every touchpoint translated into the highest Customer Satisfaction Index (CSI) After-sales score in history. The achievement has demonstrated the brand’s excellence in managing the high volume of Mercedes-Benz vehicles by maintaining high levels of customer satisfaction. The passion and expertise behind the Best Customer Experience brand promise was showcased once again in this year’s Mercedes-Benz SEA II Skills Competition. 2018 marked the competition’s 10th anniversary and first year opening its doors to the South East Asia II (SEAII) region. A total of 613 Customer Services Professionals and Advanced Modern Apprenticeship finalists competed for the title of best technician, service advisor and process specialist within the Mercedes-Benz network.

The celebrated technicians and customer services personnel make up the backbone of MBM’s 35 dedicated dealerships nationwide. In tandem with its growing fan base, MBM launched five new touchpoints last year including the NZ Wheels Klang Autohaus, Hap Seng Star Setia Alam Autohaus and Asbenz Stern Kuantan Autohaus among others. Trained with a view of keeping customers at the centre, every touch point is key in delivering the Best Products and Best Customer Service throughout the entire customer journey. To date, Mercedes-Benz has the largest premium dealer network in the country.

Recognising the dedication, passion and hard work of its dealer partners, MBM held the inaugural Dealer of the Year awards in March 2018. The award is poised to be an annual event aimed at rewarding dealerships for operational excellence and commitment to delivering the Best Customer Experience.

Another exciting offering introduced in the network for 2018 was the Mercedes-Benz Certified pre-owned vehicle programme. The programme represents the highest quality in used cars from Mercedes-Benz worldwide, previously known as Proven Exclusivity. Mercedes-Benz as a brand has invested over MYR 1 billion in the Malaysian market since 2003 and MBM’s production plant in Pekan, Pahang demonstrates its long-term position and consistent commitment to the Malaysian economy. In FY2018, the production plant produced 9,854 vehicles, including the newest addition being the Mercedes-Benz S 450 L and the Mercedes-AMG C 43 4MATIC Facelift.

MBM’s long-term commitment is also demonstrated through the Mercedes-Benz Malaysia Training Academy built to develop the skills of Malaysia’s youth and create meaningful job opportunities in the automotive industry. 2018 saw an additional 26 apprentices graduated bringing the total to 853 globally certified local apprentices who have passed through its doors since the establishment of the training programme. On its outlook for the year ahead, Dr Weidner said, “2019 will be another exciting year for Mercedes-Benz with refreshing innovations and new benchmarks to elevate the customer experience. We are excited to share these updates in due time.” Earlier today, Daimler AG announced that on a global level Mercedes-Benz sold approximately 2.3 million cars worldwide in 2018, increasing its unit sales by 0.9 per cent, making 2018 the most successful year in terms of sales in the company’s history. The new sales record in the car division of Daimler AG was driven in particular by the success of Mercedes-Benz in the Asia-Pacific region. Asia-Pacific was identified as the region with the strongest growth in 2018, delivering 943,473 (+7.8%) Mercedes-Benz cars to customers in 2018. Mercedes-Benz Malaysia was one of the few markets in the Asia Pacific region to have delivered more passenger cars than ever before in a single year.

*As of YTD November 2018 **The numbers for 2018 are unaudited and subject to change.

Watch Celebrity Car Wars and Wins Prizes

Pump and stand a chance to win amazing holiday packages, cash prizes, Caltex merchandises and more from now until November 30, 2018

Chevron Malaysia Limited, which carries the Caltex® brand, is calling out to all die-hard automotive fans to strap on and get ready for an adrenaline-packed star power adventure and stand a chance to win awesome holiday packages, cash prizes and more.

The campaign was rolled out recently in conjunction with the premiere of Celebrity Car Wars Season 3, which currently airs on HISTORY Asia (ASTRO CH555 and CH575 HD).

Caltex is once again the proud presenting sponsor of the award-winning reality automotive competition series, which aims to showcase how Caltex petrol and diesel can help vehicles deliver under even more challenging driving scenarios.

The show features a star power line up from Asia who are competing against one another through 19 challenges to be part of the Celebrity Car Wars Hall of Fame.

Among the challengers on the show are Malaysian actor, producer and director Hans Isaac, who is up against Singaporean actor and comedian Munah Bagharib; Filipino actor and VJ, Diego Loyzaga; American-Filipino actor, model, and singer Xian Lim; Thai-Australian actor, singer, and model, Matthew Deane; his wife and competitor Thai R&B idol, actress, and social media influencer Lydia Sarunrat.

From now until November 30, 2018, customers need only

spend RM 40 on a fuel transaction in a single receipt at Caltex stations nationwide,
send a picture of the receipt via WhatsApp to 017 7070683
type Caltex<space>NRIC<space>date oftransaction<space>transaction total (Example: Caltex 880818008888 12/10 RM 45) to stand a chance to win prizes totalling over RM200,000!

Caltex® believes just like the celebrities in Celebrity Car Wars who have pushed beyond their limits to complete the given obstacles to champion the show, the need to always be ahead in delivering the best engine solutions for consumers are a top priority for the brand.

Shahid Ahmed, Chevron Malaysia Country Chairman said:

“Caltex® is continuously taking one step further, taking on the challenge to provide nothing but the most innovative products for engine protection. This platform allows us to demonstrate Techron’s high-performance fuel that can help vehicles deliver under more challenging scenarios. The show features professional tips to help drivers improve their drive to gain better fuel economy, including how the right fuel can maximize power and increase engine reliability. The promotional campaign was ignited to ensure that we reward our consumers who fuel at Caltex® for a better, smoother and worry-free ride.

“Additionally, we constantly seek out methods to strengthen relationships with our customers, to make certain they have a great journey, alongside engage with them and reward them for their never-ending support towards the Caltex® brand.”

SOOO..

Don’t miss out on the final episode of Celebrity Car Wars Season 3 this Sunday, 28 October at 9.55pm on ASTRO History Channel 555 and 575 HD. Find out who will emerge as the Champion for Celebrity Car Wars Season 3.

For more information on Caltex® and its products, please visit:

http://www.caltex.com/my
https://www.facebook.com/Caltex.Malaysia/ for the latest updates.

MERCEDES-BENZ A-CLASS, Next Generation of Compact Cars

The NEW A-Class – a gadget-like automobile is the most anticipated launch in the automobile industry for Malaysia in 2018.

Retaining its youthful and dynamic character, the Mercedes-Benz A-Class redefines modern luxury and revolutionises the interior design.

Presented in TWO variants, the Mercedes-Benz A 200 and A 250 retains it urban hunter appeal with its intuitive digital user experience and an uncompromisingly dynamic design.

“The new Mercedes-Benz A-Class marks a new episode on a revolutionary journey into the digital era of the automobile. This gadget-like car redefines functionalities with an intuitive approach and underlining the lifestyle element making it the ultimate must-have item,” said Mark Raine, Vice President, Sales and Marketing, Mercedes-Benz Malaysia.

Connected. Intuitive. Digital.

The infotainment of the all new A-Class is the first Mercedes-Benz model to feature the new, state-of-the-art Mercedes-Benz User Experience (MBUX). A unique feature of this multimedia system is its ability to learn thanks to artificial intelligence. The system also recognizes and understands almost every sentence occurring in the infotainment functions and vehicle operation.

MBUX can be individualized and adapts to suit each user individually. The touchscreen is part of the comprehensive MBUX touch-control concept – a triad consisting of the touchscreen, touchpad on the centre console and touch control buttons in the steering wheel.

To further provide its drivers a holistic user experience, MBUX is equipped with its intelligent voice control with natural language comprehension which can be activated by the words, “Hey Mercedes”. This intelligent language assistant supports numerous infotainment functions such as destination input, phone call, music selection, as well as climate control and lighting. The system is said to be intelligent as it recognizes and understands sentences from the fields of infotainment and vehicle operation.

Progressive. Sporty. Avantgarde.

The design of the new A-Class is a combination of uncompromisingly dynamic design and an intuitive operating concept. The purist, surface-accentuating design of the new A-Class is the next step in the Mercedes-Benz design philosophy of Sensual Purity. The exterior of the new A-Class stands for sportiness, dynamism and emotion. The progressive front design with a low bonnet, flat LED headlamps with chrome elements and torch-like daytime driving lamps ensures an emotionally appealing and alluring appearance. All these gives the new A-Class a shark-nose like look.

Modern. Exclusive. Contemporary.

The interior design of the new A-Class is, on the other hand, a revolution from within. It is completely redefined with its modern, avantgarde look, revolutionising the compact class from the inside with a new feeling of spaciousness. Both, the Mercedes-Benz A 200 and A 250 also come with high-resolution Widescreen Cockpit with touchscreen control, setting new standards in the segment. It is featured with an all-digital instrument display which can be switched to different styles from “Classic”, “Understated” or “Sport” mode complementing the turbine-look air-vents and leather multifunction sports steering wheel.

Unrivalled. Innovative. Intelligent.

For the first time, the A-Class also comes standard with the KEYLESS-GO function, enhancing the convenience and comfort in its daily use. Underlining its sporty look, the LED high performance headlamps with its unmistakable, distinctive look provide now even more safety at night and illuminates the road ahead better than conventional headlamps and provide a daylight-like light colour which is easy on the eyes and illuminate the road ahead precisely and brightly.

The new A-Class also comes with a class-leading safety and assistance systems such as the Active Parking Assist which assist the driver when searching for a parking space and when entering or leaving a parallel or end-on parking spaces. It manoeuvres the vehicle into the selected parking space and back out again.

With the generation change, the new A-Class now comes with 64 colors for the ambient lighting. Besides the increase in color variety, the ambient lighting colors are composed into ten color worlds, allowing an avant-garde lighting display with spectacular color changes. The color worlds can be matched to the different styles of the widescreen display when required, creating a harmonious overall impression.

Redefined. Dynamics. Performance.

Besides its good looks, the new A-Class models are powered by new efficient and powerful engines. The A 200 Progressive Line is also equipped with a 1.3-litre inline turbocharged 4-cylinder petrol engine rated at 120 kW/163 hp with the 7G-DCT dual-clutch automatic transmission.

The A 250 AMG Line, on the other hand, is equipped with a 2.0-litre turbocharged 4-cylinder petrol engine rated at 165 kW/224 hp with the 7G-DCT dual-clutch automatic transmission. Both, the A 200 and A 250 is also equipped with the four DYNAMIC SELECT transmission modes “Eco”, “Comfort”, “Sport” and “Individual”.

“The new Mercedes-Benz A-Class is a revolution, offering a level of quality and luxury never seen in this class before. It will be the forerunner of the compact car range, rejuvenating our brand as the most desirable luxury lifestyle brand. This progressive A-Class reinterprates our definition of Modern Luxury with the Mercedes-Benz User Experience which is activated by the command, “Hey Mercedes.” concluded Mark.

The new Mercedes-Benz A Class is available as the A 200 Progressive Line and A 250 AMG Line, respectively for RM227,888 and RM263,888.

We designed the Plan A. Just for you.

The new A-Class redefines modern luxury in the compact class and ushers in new era in technological connectivity. So does the financing, discover the Plan A financing by Mercedes-Benz Financial – the all-in-one financing plan that offers financing, insurance and service packages.

Enjoy lower monthly instalments, guaranteed future value of your car, flexible end of agreement options, and a wide range of insurance products plus meticulous service packages that are conducted by trained and experienced technicians using genuine spare parts.

The Plan A financing starts from RM1988* and comes with a variety of packages. Just choose a financing package that suits your need and we will take care of the rest. Now for a limited time, all Plan A financing contract comes with a complimentary 1st year Tyre and Rim Insurance. Perfect for individuals who seeks value with unrivalled benefits and peace of mind. Campaign ends on December 31, 2018

Monthly instalment above is calculated based on a 3 years tenure and downpayment of approximately 22%. The A+ Package MB genuine accessories comes with spoilers, side skirting and alloy wheels. For more details call 1-800-88-1133. Terms and conditions apply.

Mercedes-Benz Financial – A Daimler Financial Services Brand. The financial services provided by Mercedes-Benz Services Malaysia Sdn Bhd are regulated by the provisions of the Financial Services Act 2013. Mercedes-Benz Services Malaysia’s operations are not within the regulatory purview of Bank Negara Malaysia.
*Terms and conditions apply.