Couple celebrates wedding anniversary with 500,000 Moola Points (worth RM5,000)

-131 Moola Frenz walked home with prizes worth RM45k in the Q1 2013 Moola Bonus Draw-

Kuala Lumpur, Thursday, 28 March 2012 – It's a double celebration for Mr. Tham Weng Fatt, aged 35, the Grand Prize Winner of Moola's Q1 2013 Bonus Draw, as he celebrates his wedding anniversary today with 500,000 Moola points. Mr. Tham was joined by first prize winner Tan Ban Sern, 26, second prize winner Rosli Bin Bidin, 32, and other winners at the prize presentation ceremony of Moola’s Q1 2013 Bonus Draw contest at Plaza Low Yat today. Moola, the first-ever Cash-Back Lifestyle Programme by ICT Utopia Sdn Bhd (ICT Utopia), a wholly-owned subsidiary of 1 Utopia Berhad, gave away prizes worth a total of RM45,000 to 131 lucky winners.

Mr. Tham was delighted to learn that he was the Grand Winner. "I couldn't believe my luck when I was first informed, and I still thought it was a dream until I came here today and saw my name as the Grand Prize Winner!" he said after the prize presentation.

A double celebration for the lucky couple, Mr. Tham Weng Fatt and his wife, who won 500,000 Moola points on their wedding anniversary today.

Mr. Tham signed up as a Moola Frenz and joined the Moola Q1 2013 Bonus Draw when he purchased a Samsung Note 2 last November for his wife, who had lost her phone. When asked about his win, he shared, “I feel that everything is fated, my purchase in November for my wife, and this win, which falls on our wedding anniversary today!”

Launched earlier in February, the contest received tremendous response with thousands of entries nationwide. The Moola Q1 2013 Bonus Draw contest is part of yearlong series of lucky draws offering prizes more than RM300,000, in addition to the grand prize of a brand new BMW 320D.

These quarterly draws will culminate with the final grand draw at the end of the year where one lucky shopper will drive home in a BMW 320D.

The Grand Prize Winner, Mr. Tham Weng Fatt, receiving 500,000 Moola points from Mr. Kenny Khow, the Executive Director of 1 Utopia Berhad.

“The contest is aimed at rewarding our customers for their unwavering support and to convey the message that shopping with Moola is a rewarding experience. We want our members to know that Moola is serious about elevating their lifestyle and bringing them an exciting shopping experience - where shopping is free! For those who did not managed to join our contest this time around, don’t worry, we’re giving away even more attractive prizes in three more contests this year, including the final draw in December where you can walk away with a brand new BMW!" said 1 Utopia’s Executive Director, Mr. Kenny Khow.

“Our membership and merchants network have grown steadily since our launch last September. We hope to generate more members through our social media marketing strategies and our on ground activities. We have lots of promotion and freebies up for grabs for our Facebook fans and Twitter followers, so please make sure to check Moola out!” urged Kenny.

The winners of the Moola Q1 2013 Bonus Draw and the management team from 1 Utopia Berhad.

When any Moola member, known as Moola Frenz, spend above RM50 at any F&B Moola Shopz or RM500 at any ICT Moola Shopz in a single receipt, they are entitled to participate in the quarterly bonus draws which will be held again in June and September 2013 respectively and also the final grand draw at the end of the year. All they have to do is answer three simple questions and fill up their membership numbers in the entry forms provided.

Lucky draws aside, Moola Frenz will also earn Moola for every single purchase at participating merchant outlets and use the Moola earned to offset payments at any Moola Shopz.

Ever since its launch on 13th September 2012, Moola has embarked on elevating the lifestyle of Malaysian shoppers by offering a more rewarding and satisfying shopping experience. Unlike other loyalty programmes that offer a limited catalogue of redeemable items, Moola members can redeem their Moola points either as full payment or part payment for a variety of products and services available at any of the Moola Shopz Network.

For more information or member registration, just download the Moola App from your respective mobile app store or visit www.moola.my.

Malaysia’s ICT Retailers Unite to Form Independent Association For a Better Future

Kuala Lumpur, 27 September 2012 - While the debate continues over the performance of the newly launched iPhone 5, IT retailers in Malaysia gathered to discuss a much more important matter; their survival in a changing and evolving IT market. Over 140 IT retailers and representatives of regional IT associations from all over Malaysia attended the forum.  This included Irene Sau, Chairman of Penang ICT Association (PICTA), Kevin Chan, Chairman of Ipoh IT Association and Simon Kong, Vice President of  Kuching Computer Business Association. The forum was initiated and chaired by 1 Utopia Berhad Managing Director, Chin Boon Long at Federal Hotel today.

The discussion, entitled “Survival of IT Retailers” was called in response to the current challenges faced by Malaysian IT retailers over the years. The discussion highlighted serious issues that plague IT retailers, including the steady decrease of retail price and profit margin and the ever increasing burden of operating expenses and rental cost.

1 Utopia Berhad Managing Director Chin Boon Long championing the survival of IT retailers in Malaysia

The forum also saw the IT retailers’ intent to form an independent association, a separate entity from PIKOM, to safeguard the interest and future of IT retailers in Malaysia. The association hopes to address the many challenges faced by IT retailers and aims to develop a vibrant and sustainable IT retail eco-system and fair marketplace in Malaysia. The idea, which was mooted by Managing Director of 1 Utopia, Chin Boon Long, received overwhelming support from over 100 IT retailers, who see the urgency of its independent formation.

The IT retailers have also signed a petition form to show their support on the solutions proposed during the forum. The petition has garnered the support of the majority of the attendees, and is still ongoing nationwide to reach out to those who were not able to attend today’s forum. So far, thirteen IT retailers from all over the country volunteered themselves to be part of the working committee for the new association.

Unanimous support by the country's IT retailers for the formation an independent IT retail association

While the increased demand for ICT related products in Malaysia has seemingly result in better business, IT retailers find themselves in an increasingly difficult situation, with many of them going out of business and facing legal actions as business dwindles and competition increases. Some IT retailers expressed their frustration and aired grievances notably low profit margins, price protection/rebate claims, stock commitments, financial liquidity, frequent trade fairs, no IT industry association and the impact of the government’s recent free laptop policy.

Among the suggestions made were to increase profit margins, reduce unrealistic stock commitments set by vendors, a mutually  fair and timely rebate claim system, reduction in the number of trade shows from the current 9 to 3 per year and to provide support for retailers facing financial difficulty.

The working committee, headed by Chin Boon Long (first from left), volunteering to play a role in the association

Mr. Ong Kian Yew, Executive Director of Pikom, who was also present said that Pikom was committed to take on the issues raised during the discussion and to table them at the coming council meeting in 2 weeks’ time. However, the IT retailers have united to form an independent association to champion and safeguard the survival of IT retailers in Malaysia.