The Malaysia Retail Chain Association (MRCA) Celebrates Its Golden Spring Of Giving
The Malaysia Retail Chain Association (MRCA) celebrated the advent of the Chinese lunar new year with a festive dinner celebration which attracted 1,100 guests.
A record turnout of 1,100 guests at the annual Chinese New Year gala dinner by the Malaysia Retail Chain Association (MRCA) showcased the close ties that bind members of the local retail scene. The event brought together household retail names, industry giants and entrepreneurs at the Imperial Ballroom of the One World Hotel in Petaling Jaya.
In his speech, guest of honour Gobind Singh Deo, Malaysia’s Digital Minister, remarked that Malaysia’s digitally savvy population promises huge opportunities and returns. “Placing our SMEs in the driver’s seat of our digital journey will naturally result in the expanding use of digital tools and solutions,” he said, adding that “this means more digital jobs, more cybersecurity solutions required, more infrastructure to be built, and more importantly—enabling the rakyat to prosper.”
The minister also hailed the continuing partnerships which have been struck up, noting that over 600 retail brands and 40,000 outlets will benefit from the MRCA and U Mobile partnership, ensuring retailers are able to use cashless payment systems allied with smart inventory management.
In his welcome address, MRCA President Datuk Dr Ken Phua lauded the 6.1 per cent year-on-year growth for the 2025 retail trade, amounting to RM811.5 billion. Continued growth and strong spending at supermarkets, department stores and specialised retail stores, coupled with school holidays and festive seasons, helped with momentum. Meanwhile, the government’s reduction of the SST on rental and leasing was also noted, with Datuk Phua proposing a further short-term reduction to four per cent with a gradual return to eight per cent in the course of time.
Ongoing 5G Digitalisation Partnerships have also led to the support and patronage of RHB Bank and Microsoft with MRCA. And with the retail trade’s sizeable 17.6 per cent contribution to GDP, the MRCA has now embarked on the first MRCA Retail Tech Summit, which Datuk Phua announced will take place on April 10 of this year at the swanky W Kuala Lumpur.
Amid the feasting, live orchestra performances and lucky draws, the evening’s programme also comprised the MRCA graduation ceremony, celebrating the member companies who had completed specialised upskilling programmes. A total of 105 industry practitioners were showcased receiving their qualifications ranging from executive diplomas in retail management from the London Examination Board to advanced food safety certification from Sunway University.
To cap the night, the MRCA Branding Education Charity Foundation, chaired by Dato’ Liaw Choon Liang of Focus Point, presented a total of RM40,800 from its MRCA Student Encouragement Fund to 47 outstanding students—the children of employees from within the MRCA’s member companies.
Lead photo: (from left) Datuk Seri Nelson Kwok, Datuk Dr Ken Phua, Gobind Singh Deo, Dato’ Eddie Choon, Dato’ Sharan Valiram and Tan Sri Barry Goh.
Photos courtesy of Malaysia Retail Chain Association (MRCA)
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