MAG Partners Sunway to Accelerate Economic Recovery

Sunway City Kuala Lumpur, 13 April 2022: Malaysia Aviation Group (MAG) and Sunway Group have entered into a partnership to capitalise on each other’s strengths and strong presence as catalysts to reviving the country’s economy in a range of industries including aviation, property, education, medical tourism and hospitality.

The collaboration will allow MAG, a global aviation organisation, and Sunway, one of Southeast Asia’s leading conglomerates, to explore broad collaborative initiatives which include new business opportunities, joint marketing campaigns as well as branding and promotional activities between two Malaysian brands. The subsidiaries under MAG include MAB, Firefly, MASwings, and Journify; where subsidiaries under Sunway include Sunway Malls, Sunway Theme Parks, Sunway Property, Sunway Education Group, Sunway Healthcare Group and Sunway Travel.

The MoU was signed between Group Chief Executive Officer of MAG, Captain Izham Ismail, and Ms Sarena Cheah, Executive Director of Sunway Group. The ceremony was witnessed by Tan Sri Wan Zulkiflee bin Wan Ariffin, Group Chairman of Malaysia Airlines Berhad and Malaysia Aviation Group; Tan Sri Dato’ Seri Dr. Jeffrey Cheah, Founder and Chairman of Sunway Group; and Tan Sri Datuk Seri Razman M. Hashim, Deputy Chairman of Sunway Group.

Group Chief Executive Officer of MAG, Captain Izham Ismail said: “We are delighted to advance our collaboration with Sunway Group to jointly drive a wide spectrum of collaborative efforts. We believe that these efforts are vital for exploring and capitalising on new opportunities that will emerge to ultimately promote brand awareness at greater levels. This is a momentous occasion for both brands, as we join forces to advance the lives of millions of people and businesses that were impacted by the pandemic – particularly in the fields of aviation, property, education, medical tourism, and hospitality. Our collaboration with Sunway Group today demonstrates how organisations with shared values and goals can pave the way to accelerate industries and economic growth.”

Chief Executive Officer of Sunway Malls & Theme Parks Mr HC Chan said: “Our collaboration with Malaysia Aviation Group is one that we are very excited about. Apart from raising both brands’ standing through purposeful collaborations, these efforts will undoubtedly accelerate Malaysia’s economic recovery and growth that was hampered by the pandemic. Malaysia remains a touristic destination that has so much to offer. Through this partnership with MAG, we believe that it is time for revitalisation and recovery for these sectors once again, putting Malaysia on the map of the world."

Through this MoU, Malaysia Airlines will be appointed as the preferred airline of Sunway, reflecting Sunway’s confidence in the airline’s premium and reliable services across the airline’s network, both locally and internationally. At the same time, Sunway will be able to tap into new opportunities through the airline’s tour operating arm, MHholidays; the airline’s digital student travel programme, MHexplorer; and a joint reward programme via the airline’s Travel and Lifestyle loyalty programme, Enrich. This partnership aims to offer comprehensive travel packages covering flights, hotel stays, and attractions that promise all-in-one hassle-free planning and absolute enjoyment on both companies’ MHholidays packages, Journify Vacation and Themepark Vouchers, Quarantine Facilities, and Special MH Packages.

MAG and Sunway will further offer curated medical tourism packages as well. These packages will extend exclusive discounts and air travel promotions of MAG’s airline companies for customers requiring treatment at Sunway Healthcare Group’s facilities. With this, MAG and Sunway hope to promote further growth in Malaysia’s medical tourism sector.

Beyond the various forms of tourism offers, this collaboration will allow both brands to leverage each other’s expertise to establish a robust talent ecosystem on student placements, academic information and knowledge exchange, develop joint-research projects, and offer new aviation programmes at selected Sunway educational institutions. Additionally, studentsenrolled at institutions under Sunway Education Group will enjoy exclusive benefits when they sign up for the airline's digital travel programme, MHexplorer, for their travel from and within Malaysia.

This partnership between Sunway and MAG began through Enrich, MAG’s Travel and Lifestyle loyalty programme. Through this latest collaboration, Enrich seeks to introduce even more value-added experiences and allow members to redeem Sunway Pals points with Enrich Points. Sunway Pals points can be redeemed to enjoy privileges at more than 1,000 merchants across Sunway business divisions including malls, theme parks, healthcare, education andproperty. Conversely, Enrich Points may also be redeemed with Sunway Pals points. These can be used to enjoy an extensive range of experiences such as flights, seat upgrades, retail items, access to Malaysia Airlines Golden Lounges, hotel stays, dining and more.

This collaboration will open doors to sustainability initiatives that reinforce MAG’s and Sunway’s shared commitment to sustainability. Both organisations have pledged to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, in line with the national climate agenda to be a carbon neutral economy by 2050.