guardian Marks its 57th Birthday by Continuing to Nurture the Beauty and Wellbeing of Malaysians

guardian Malaysia celebrates its 57th year of operations with a series of activities that reinforce its commitment to nurturing the beauty and wellbeing of Malaysians. These activities include:

• A Pink October campaign in collaboration with Kundal and The National Cancer Society of Malaysia (NCSM) to raise awareness, expand access, and drive action in the nation’s fight against breast cancer.

• The launch of new, exclusive beauty and wellbeing brands in guardian Malaysia’s stores nationwide and online, culminating in an official event later this month at guardian The Exchange TRX mall to celebrate these exciting new offerings.

• An exclusive 57% discount promotion on the purchase of the second item across 3,000 products, available both in-store and online throughout the month.

Through these initiatives, guardian Malaysia aims to remind and encourage Malaysians from all walks of life to prioritize nurturing their own beauty and wellbeing.

Anna Ng, Marketing Director of guardian Malaysia, emphasized: “Outer beauty and inner wellbeing require daily nurturing. This includes having knowledge about what’s good for you and being able to access the ‘right choice’ of beauty and wellbeing products.”

Pink October: Guardian Malaysia Steps Up in the Fight Against Breast Cancer

Breast cancer remains the #1 cancer affecting women in Malaysia, with 1 in 19 women being diagnosed. Due to a lack of awareness and low rates of early detection—especially among lower-income households—nearly half of the cases are only confirmed in the late stages (Stages 3 and 4).

This has resulted in a low 5-year survival rate of 66.8% which is much lower than other Asian countries such as Singapore (79%), South Korea (92.6%), and Japan (96.2%).

Early detection is crucial in combating breast cancer. In partnership with Kundal and The National Cancer Society of Malaysia (NCSM), guardian Malaysia will introduce an exclusive Pink Glove breast self-examination kit.

It includes a scrub glove with self-examination steps, two bottles of body wash, and one body scrub, retailing at RM23.88.

For every Pink Glove kit sold, part of proceeds will be contributed to NCSM to support work in education, awareness, and early detection programs for breast cancer.

Additionally, 10,000 Pink Glove kits will be set aside and distributed by NCSM to underprivileged women across Malaysia.

Sunplay's “Sending Love & Care to the Ocean” CSR Initiative

Sunplay, Malaysia’s leading sunscreen brand, proudly announces the 4th consecutive year of its impactful “Sending Love & Care to the Ocean” CSR initiative. This year, the initiative takes a significant step forward with an exciting new partnership with Watsons and Reef Check Malaysia for a coral rehabilitation project on Tioman Island, reinforcing Sunplay’s unwavering commitment to ocean conservation.

In a pioneering effort, Sunplay has pledged to donate RM1 from every purchase of Sunplay Ultra Eco-Safe UV Lotion and other outdoor sunscreens sold at Watsons throughout September. This collective effort has successfully raised RM40,000, which will be used to restore vital marine ecosystems by planting coral fragments, essential for sustaining the diverse marine life of Tioman Island.

Lim Mei Yuen, General Manager of Rohto-Mentholatum (M) Sdn Bhd, expressed her enthusiasm for this expanded conservation initiative and her gratitude for the partnerships that made it possible.

“We are thrilled to elevate our ‘Sending Love & Care to the Ocean’ initiative by collaborating with Reef Check Malaysia in a project that not only rehabilitates coral reefs but also engages the local community. This partnership embodies our enduring dedication to protecting these invaluable marine habitats,” Lim Mei Yuen remarked.

Coral reefs, often referred to as the "rainforests of the sea," are vital to the health of marine ecosystems. They provide habitat for countless marine species, protect coastlines from erosion, and support local economies through tourism and fishing. However, these essential ecosystems are under unprecedented threat from climate change, pollution, and human activities, making conservation efforts increasingly critical.

Guinness Brings Fans The Ultimate Football Viewing Party This 19th October @ Sentul Depot

Guinness, the Official Beer of the Premier League, is gearing up to deliver an extraordinary football viewing experience. Guinness Matchday is set to take over Sentul Depot on 19th October 2024, promising an action-packed event that brings together football fans and Guinness lovers for an unforgettable celebration of the beautiful game — and the perfect pint.

Head down to Guinness Matchday at Sentul Depot on 19th October for an epic night where the beautiful game meets the beautiful beer.

All fans, regardless of their club allegiance, are invited to catch the two thrilling Premier League matches, Tottenham Hotspur vs West Ham United and Manchester United vs Brentford, broadcast live on a massive 8m x 14m screen.

Thousands of attendees at a previous Guinness event held at Sentul Depot.

The entertainment doesn’t stop there! Enjoy the evening with friends and join in the spirit of camaraderie with football-themed activities and score exclusive prizes, including free Guinness, signed jerseys by football legends, customisable Guinness Jerseys and other limited-edition merchandise, while stocks last.

To top it all off, take advantage of the amazing Guinness promotions and compete for the Grand Prize—an All-Expenses-Paid Trip for two to watch a Premier League match in England in April 2025. That's right. Guinness will be giving out one of its three Premier League season Grand Prizes, and the first winner will be crowned on the night itself.

Score exclusive prizes including free Guinness, jerseys, limited edition merchandise and the Grand Prize, an all-expenses-paid trip to watch the Premier League live.

Shaun Lim, Marketing Manager of Wheatbeer, Stout and Diageo Brands at Heineken Malaysia Berhad, said, "Guinness Matchday is more than just a viewing party—it’s an immersive celebration of everything that makes football and Guinness iconic. Whether you’re here for the passion of the game or the camaraderie of sharing a pint, this event is designed to unite fans in a truly unforgettable way. By combining the thrill of live Premier League action with Guinness, exclusive prizes, and stand to win the ultimate football experience in England, we’re creating memories that will last a lifetime. At the heart of it all, we remind everyone why football remains ‘the beautiful game’ and why Guinness remains its perfect match."

HOYA Malaysia x World Sight Day 2024 - “A Million Visions” Campaign

World Sight Day 2024 falls on 10 October 2024. This year, HOYA Malaysia is shining a spotlight on children’s eye health, aligning with the global theme #loveyoureyeskids to prevent future blindness. Today, HOYA Malaysia proudly launched the “A Million Visions” campaign, supporting HOYA’s global goal of providing 1 million eye examinations to children, addressing the growing concern of myopia among them. As part of this effort, HOYA Malaysia is offering free eye examinations to children aged 5 to 12, emphasising the need for early detection and treatment. The campaign also urges eye care professionals (ECPs) to consider clinically proven early interventions, like MiYOSMART lenses to manage myopia progression in high-risk children.

Understanding Myopia and Its Global Impact

Myopia, or shortsightedness, is a refractive error that affects millions of children worldwide. According to recent studies1, the prevalence of myopia has reached alarming rates, with projections indicating that nearly half of the global population could be myopic by 2050. High myopia is associated with an increased risk of serious eye diseases such as glaucoma, cataract, and retinal detachment. This underscores the urgency of addressing this growing public health concern.

Many parents remain unaware of the early signs of myopia in their children, often delaying eye tests. This delay is significant as children, who may have lived with myopia for years, often consider their impaired vision as normal and do not complain about it. Regular eye tests from the age of 5 to 12 are crucial to detect and manage myopia early.

Common Misconceptions About Myopia

There are several misconceptions surrounding myopia that need addressing. One of the most common is the belief that wearing glasses will make myopia worse or lead to dependence on them- this is false. In reality, untreated myopia can lead to its progression, increasing the risk of severe vision problems later in life, including conditions that could result in blindness.

"Myopia itself doesn't cause blindness directly, but it significantly increases the risk of developing serious eye conditions that can lead to vision loss. Early detection and intervention are key to preventing these outcomes," said Dr Norazah Abdul Rahman, a leading Ophthalmologist in Kuala Lumpur.

Taking Action: What Parents Need to Know

Parents are encouraged to take proactive steps to protect their children's vision:

A Strategic Union: Public Bank to Acquire a Controlling Stake in LPI and the Teh Family Refines their Equity Position in Public Bank Berhad

Public Bank Berhad (“Public Bank”) had on 10 October 2024 entered into a conditional sale and purchase agreement (“SPA”) with the Estate of the Late Tan Sri Dato’ Sri Dr. Teh Hong Piow (“Estate”) and Consolidated Teh Holdings Sdn. Bhd. (“ConTeh”) to acquire in aggregate 175,896,000 ordinary shares in LPI Capital Bhd (“LPI”), representing approximately 44.15% equity interest in LPI, for a total cash consideration of RM1.72 billion (“Proposed Acquisition”).

LPI, a company listed on the Main Market of Bursa Malaysia, has been in operations for over 60 years and is mainly involved in the underwriting of general insurance. It currently has 21 branches throughout Malaysia, 1 branch in Singapore and also operates in Cambodia through an associate company.

L" Tan Sri Dato’ Sri Dr. Tay Ah Lek, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Public Bank

R: eh Li Shian Diona, the youngest daughter of the late Tan Sri Dato’ Sri Dr. Teh Hong Piow

Speaking at the press conference after the SPA signing ceremony, Tan Sri Dato’ Sri Dr. Tay Ah Lek, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Public Bank said, “The Proposed Acquisition represents a strategic opportunity for Public Bank to further expand its general insurance segment into the Malaysian market through the LPI Group. This will allow the enlarged Public Bank Group to establish an immediate market presence and strong foothold in the general insurance segment in Malaysia as a comprehensive complementary service to its current financial services and Family Takaful offerings.”

He further added that, “The Proposed Acquisition is also in line with our Group’s plans to expand beyond just organic growth but through strategic acquisitions to expand our product and service offerings as evident by our recent completion of the acquisition of Public Bank Securities Vietnam Company Limited which allowed our Group to expand our financial services offering in Vietnam with the inclusion of securities trading services.”

Tan Sri Tay concluded by saying, “This strategic acquisition of LPI Group, a long-established and leading general insurance player in Malaysia, represents a clear and unique opportunity for us to accelerate our vision to move towards a “Universal Banking Model” that offers comprehensive and diverse range of financial and other related products and services under the same group.

With our existing network of over 260 branches located throughout the country, LPI Group would be able to leverage and expand its distribution channels and further grow its general insurance business in Malaysia. In addition, we would also be able to tap into the sales and distribution network of LPI and further expand our reach to cover clients and customers of LPI.

Aside from the mutual cross selling of products and services, Public Bank and LPI will also explore possibilities on developing new integrated products and services catering to our customers’ financial and insurance needs.”

As this is a related party transaction, the Proposed Acquisition is subject to the approval of the non-interested shareholders of Public Bank at an Extraordinary General Meeting (“EGM”) to be held at a later date. Should the Proposed Acquisition be approved at the EGM, Public Bank will be obliged to extend an unconditional mandatory take-over offer (“MGO”) (“Proposed Offer”) for the remaining equity interest in LPI not already owned by it.

Children’s Day Festival 2024 @ Royale Chulan Seremban – Grand Events Curated for The Young Ones

Children’s Day falls on the month of November every year. This year, let's embrace this special occasion together with Royale Chulan Seremban Hotel. The hotel will be organizing an exciting 2-day event to cater exciting activities and contests dedicated for all children. Starts from Saturday, 9th November 2024 and ends on Sunday 10th November 2024, this annual event aims to cater children with fun-filled activities and engaging contests throughout the 2 day.

This year, the renowned natural home and personal care brand - Bzu Bzu, will be generously distributing 2,000 door gifts to all children during the event.

A variety of contests and competitions will be held during the Children’s Day Festival 2024 at Royale Chulan Seremban Hotel. Including a colouring contest, dance competition, singing competition, and fashion show at Seri Negeri Ballroom 1.

Winners in these contests will have the chance to win exciting gifts valued at RM400, cash prizes by PTPN of RM500 for each in the colouring, dance, singing, and fashion show competitions, trophies, certificates, and four Legoland Malaysia theme park tickets, valued at RM800. The second and third-place winners will receive cash prizes of RM400 and RM300, respectively, along with trophy, certificates, prizes and two entrance tickets to Snowlim Wonderland Malaysia and gift prizes valued at RM300. Plus, no child will leave empty-handed, as all participants will receive tokens of appreciation and certificates, even if they don’t win. Contest fees start from RM25 nett per child, which includes specially prepared meals for all participants.

Additionally, at the Seri Negeri Ballroom 2, the Hotel collaborate with Brick Matrix, renowned for organizing major Lego competitions across Malaysia, organizing the first-ever Lego competition in Negeri Sembilan, with over 500 participants expected each day. Registration at RM5 per contestant, the competition is open to all children, teens, and parents. Participants will compete for a chance to win one of 18 Lego box prizes! The Training Chess Centre Negeri Sembilan will host a chess tournament over two days in Ballroom 3. The event on November 9 is open to children up to 12 years old, while the tournament on November 10 welcomes participants of all ages, including adults. Trophies will be awarded to the winners on both days.