No 'Mega Sale' In Miri To Tempt Visitors
By Huraizah Ahmad

Bandar Seri Begawan - The use of catchy phrases certainly adds to the power of persuasion during sales, however, business folk in the border town of Miri will be missing out on millions of ringgit in potential foreign exchange from Brunei because of the limitation of the phrase 'mega sale'.

Businesses in Malaysia are only allowed to use the phrase 'mega sale' during August and September, and while there is the ongoing `year-end sale', it is the phrase `mega sale' that psychologically attracts Bruneians to the neighbouring country by the thousands, The Star Online reported recently.

In view of this, the Sarawak Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry Chairman, Datuk Sim Hock Guan, appealed to the Malaysian government to be more liberal in using the term 'mega sale'.

"It seems that shoppers from Brunei eagerly await the 'mega sale'. We have not received any notice (from the Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry) to initiate any mega sales, even though this is the Christmas season and the period leading to the New Year and new school term ... but it seems the crowd coming here now is not as big as anticipated," Datuk Sim was quoted as saying. Previous estimates show that mega sales in Miri can rake in at least RM30 million in foreign exchange from visitors from Brunei, who cross into Miri for shopping, entertainment, food and sight-seeing.

Meanwhile, head of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry Malaysia, Balwant Singh, said that while the term 'mega sale' was a strong draw, it was a gazetted name and can only be allowed to be used in August and September every year. "Right now there is an ongoing year-end sale. Actually it is the same as the mega sale... but it seems the term `mega sale' is more well-known and attractive," he said adding that the business community must do more promotions for the year-end sale and highlight it as widely as possible as is done for the mega sale.

This is especially important as the country is gearing up for its Visit Malaysia Year (VMY) 2007 campaign that will be officially launched by Malaysian Prime Minister Dato' Seri AbdullahAhmad Badawi on January 6 next year in Kuala Lumpur.

The launch will include a concert featuring renowned Malaysian artistes, fireworks display and the unveiling of the 60-metre high Ferris Wheel (dubbed Malaysian Eye) - a first such structure in Southeast Asia, similar to the `London Eye'.

Over 20.1 million visitors are expected for VMY 2007 that coincides with the country's 50th Anniversary of Independence with over 200 events spread across the country alongside 50 other major events already planned.-- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin

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