The growing trend towards healthier eating and the availability of strategic business sites have pushed Burger King Malaysia towards expansion this year.
The fast food chain is also embarking on a rebranding exercise with a new logo – all these despite Malaysia’s battle against Covid-19 being far from over.
The company is to invest RM30 million this year as it aims to grow by 20 per cent by the end of the year.
This investment is in addition to the RM22 million invested last year – at the height of the pandemic – which resulted in 18 new restaurants nationwide.
“This is the first complete rebrand in over 20 years,” said Burger King Malaysia chief executive officer Ng Lee Tieng.
“We have adapted to the times and embraced changes to remain relevant.”
She added the company has made changes to its recipes in line with the growing trend of eating healthier food among consumers in the country.
Burger King introduced the new minimalist logo last month as it paid homage to the brand’s 64-year-old history with the look emulating its logo used from 1969 to 1999.
“As a franchisee, the rebranding exercise is timely as it is in line with our plan to expand. We trust that the new visual identity will help Malaysian consumers relate better with the brand as they progress in their healthier eating journey.
“The economic slowdown during the pandemic also led to the availability of several business sites at very strategic locations.
“With our vision to grow alongside the rebranding exercise, coupled with our capacity to expand and contribute to economic movement and job creation, so why not (do it)?”
Besides focusing on central peninsular Malaysia, the company is also actively looking at expanding up north and in East Malaysia, in line with the growth of the country’s logistics and transportation routes.
Ng said the pandemic forced the company to shift its focus to digital marketing.
“Before the pandemic, we spent up to RM2 million on billboard advertisements annually. However, the sum was halved during the pandemic, given fewer people on the road, especially during the implementation of the Movement Control Order.”
She said the focus on digital was also in line with more people working from home and the rise in demand for food delivery services.
“Our digital adoption will continue to accelerate for sure,” Ng said.
She added the recently launched Malaysia Digital Economy Blueprint by the government, which promises 5G technology among others, will result in faster communication and engagement with consumers.
Here’s the round-up of The News Normal today
BUSINESSES TOLD TO GO DIGITAL
The Department of Statistics Malaysia has called on business owners in Malaysia to embrace digitalisation instead of waiting for pre-Covid-19 days to return following the nationwide immunisation programme.
Chief Statistician Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Uzir Mahidin admitted the vaccination programme will help mitigate the economic impact following the lockdowns due to the pandemic.
“Nevertheless, businesses should not look at the vaccines as a solution and they should continuously adapt to the new norms,” Uzir said in a statement.
“With the rapid rise of e-commerce adoption due to physical distancing and lockdown measures, digitalisation is unquestionably the way forward.”
SELANGOR MB GETS COVID-19 JAB, PENANG CM ON SUNDAY
A day after the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme was rolled out, Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari and four others received the first dose of the vaccine at the Shah Alam Hospital today.
The others were Health Deputy Minister I Datuk Dr Noor Azmi Ghazzali, Selangor public health exco Dr Siti Mariah Mahmud, Selangor Health Department director Datuk Dr Sha’ari Ngadiman and state secretary Datuk Nor Azmie Diron.
Meanwhile, Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow will be the first in the state to receive the Covid-19 vaccine this Sunday. It will mark the beginning of the immunisation programme in Penang.
Yesterday, Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin was the first person in Malaysia to be vaccinated.
OVER 630K SIGNED UP FOR COVID-19 VACCINE VIA MYSEJAHTERA
Over 637,000 people have signed up for the Covid-19 vaccine through MySejahtera.
Senior assistant director-general of the Disease Control Division at the Health Ministry, Dr Mahesh Appannan, in revealing the figure, said the mobile application was considered the most effective medium to disseminate Covid-19 information, including the vaccination programme which was launched yesterday.
“The MySejahtera application now has almost 21 million unique users and they are all active. We get between 18 and 20 million check-ins daily. This shows the application is widely used,” Dr Mahesh said.
POLICE WARN THOSE WHO SPREAD FAKE NEWS ABOUT COVID-19 VACCINE
Police have warned those who spread fake news to discourage people from taking the Covid-19 vaccine.
Deputy Inspector-General of Police, Datuk Seri Acryl Sani Abdullah Sani, in a statement, said those who spread such news can be investigated under Section 505(b) of the Penal Code and Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998.
He advised the public not to make any statements that would create confusion.
APEX COURT: SELANGOR SYARIAH LAW ON UNNATURAL SEX UNCONSTITUTIONAL
The Federal Court this morning ruled that Section 28 of the Syariah Criminal Offences (Selangor) Enactment 1995, which allows for punishment for unnatural sex, is unconstitutional.
Chief Justice Tun Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat, who chaired a nine-member bench and delivered the judgment through a virtual proceeding, said the power to enact criminal laws lies with Parliament and the enacted section is in contrast with the State List under the Federal Constitution.
“As such, Section 28 is inconsistent and void,” she said.
The ruling was made following a 36-year-old Muslim man’s legal bid to annul Section 28 of the Syariah Criminal Offences (Selangor Enactment) 1995.
The man, whose name has been withheld for privacy reasons, filed legal action following his arrest for attempting gay sex three years ago.
ACADEMICIAN SAYS NO END TO MALAYSIA’S POLITICAL DRAMA EVEN AFTER GE15
The Covid-19 pandemic and the political instability in the country are not auguring well for the economy, raising questions on how Malaysia will bounce back.
Adding to the uncertainty is a looming general election this year which may cause everything to go south for Malaysia, says Universiti Sains Malaysia’s Assoc Prof Dr Azeem Fazwan Ahmad Farouk.
