KUALA LUMPUR, 6 May 2020 - According to the latest survey by YouGov, in spite of governmental measures to curb the spread of COVID-19, data shows that Muslims in Malaysia are still stocking up and spending on goods and services in preparation for Ramadan, and food and beverage brands top the chart. In Malaysia, where strict lockdowns have been in place since mid-March – it appears many have turned to online shopping.
While businesses are expected to be slowly reopening under the conditional Movement Control Order (MCO), Malaysians continue to observe Ramadan differently this year especially when large public events are still not permitted to prioritise the safety and health of the nation. This includes Ramadan Bazaars, an annual custom closest to the heart of many Malaysians.
As Ramadan is one of the most important time of the year for Malaysians, businesses are finding new ways to continue keeping the traditions of the month of Ramadan alive, bringing the experience online to Facebook, enabling businesses to stay connected and celebrate the Ramadan season with their customers in true #kitajagakita spirit.
“We saw more than 2 million people in Malaysia are members of over 2,000 Malaysia centric Facebook groups focused on Ramadan Bazaar. These groups are pivoting to sustain their income generation, while keeping the Ramadan spirits alive in this unprecedented time, said Nicole Tan, Country Director of Facebook Malaysia. This is where we can play our part by sharing best practices so they can continue to run their Ramadan businesses online effectively, provide an avenue for people to still come together and get their favorite and popular items in preparation for Ramadan and Raya.”
Facebook Business is collaborating with local businesses in hosting a week long Facebook Live event, themed Jaga Jarak, Tetap Meriah dengan Digital Beli Belah. This event will be hosted on Facebook for Business Page, and will run from 13th May - 17th May 2020 from 4PM to 7.00PM daily. “We hope this will serve as an exemplary moment for businesses to make reference and learn from in keeping the festivity spirit and business up online, while maintaining social distancing,” added Nicole. Viewers can also expect to hear sharing on free business resources available that they can adapt to navigate businesses during Covid-19.
Small home business owners who traditionally participate in Ramadan markets across the nation have been greatly impacted by the pandemic as well. In efforts to scale necessary support to these businesses, Facebook Malaysia in partnership with the Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC), will host 20 training sessions to equip these businesses with the necessary digital skills and knowledge to connect and take their businesses online.
“We prioritise and are supportive of initiatives that impart digital entrepreneurship knowledge and skills amongst SMBs and micro-entrepreneurs in Malaysia. By working with global industry partners like Facebook, through its various digital upskilling programmes, we hope to continue our efforts in accelerating the nation’s digital transformation agenda. This is also very much in line with the on-going week-long E-Dagang Expo (eDX) that MDEC has put together for this week. After all, the goal is to enable more Malaysian entrepreneurs to thrive in the digital landscape amid these difficult times,” said Surina Shukri, CEO of MDEC.
Daging Salai Cik Yah, a premium ready-to-eat smoked meat business is one of the many examples of businesses that have capitalised their Facebook and Instagram pages to stay engaged with customers this Ramadan. As one of the participants of KBS-MDEC's eUsahawan Young Heroes Programme, founder Azwani binti Che Zainuldin shared that Facebook’s Audience Insights has helped her identify and tailor ads and content for the right audiences. The programme in partnership with Facebook empowers SMEs with digital entrepreneurship skills and capabilities. “I am very thankful for social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram. I have managed to build a trusted brand that has seen an increase of 300% in sales since the Movement Control Order (MCO) was put in place. I am able to continue connecting with a ready audience and engage with them effectively”. With Malaysians staying home and cooking more often this Ramadan, Azwani uses her Instagram to share simple daging salai recipes.
Nicole added “People are using our services to stay connected to one another even when they cannot physically be together and we will continue to update our free e-learning courses and virtual training programs and materials to reflect the current state of the world. While we’re not perfect and will continue to evolve, we’re sharing what we’ve learned so far, especially about what it means to be resilient in times of stress and fear, and how important it is for people to take care of themselves - in addition to talking about productivity and impact.”
