Big shift for Ramadan Bazaar merchants with Boost
Kuala Lumpur, 15 April 2022 – About 800 local Ramadan bazaar merchants have opted to digitalise their business operations with Boost, the fintech arm of Axiata, for better convenience and safety.
Local legends and Ramadan favourites, such as Mat Rock Ayam Goreng Kunyit, Air Balang Laksamana, Syakiya Nasi Lemak Kukus, Murtabak Muslim KL, and many others, are amongst the hundreds of bazaar merchants that have embraced Boost as their preferred cashless payment solution this year.
One of the local bazaar merchants on-ground, Mohd Ridzuan bin Kihi, owner of Mat Rock Ayam Goreng Kunyit, says it is positive to see Ramadan bazaars can operate in full swing again after about 2 years of restrictions due to COVID-19.
“Our team is very excited to be able to connect with our supportive customers and cook their favourite dishes onsite at the Bazaar.
“As a community, we are doing all that we can to keep both our customers and staff safe by providing contactless alternatives for daily transactions, like Boost. Let’s continue protecting each other so that our economy can remain open and recover.”
Festive Season
Joe Qamarul Bin Abdul Razak, is the owner of Air Balang Laksamana, a refreshment drink stall that has been operating at Pandan Indah’s bazaar for the past 15 years.
He states that small businesses, such as his, rely on festive seasons as their primary source of income to cover cost and stay afloat throughout the year.
He adds that he is thankful to Boost for making cashless payments more accessible to everyone, which helps minimise business disruptions during Ramadan, enabling him to continue earning a living as the sole breadwinner of his family.
In addition to empowering micro-small-and-medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) by providing an extra layer of protection through its easy-to-use and seamless fintech solutions, Boost has also injected incentives for shoppers to support merchants and businesses.
Every Friday at 12PM to 4PM from now until the end of April 2022, Malaysians can redeem RM10 Duit Raya credit on their Boost app as part of Boost’s ‘Kongsikan KeberkaTEN Ramadan’ campaign, in support of local merchants*.
“After 2 years of subdued Ramadan bazaars, it’s heartening to see the rakyat becoming more comfortable to resume daily life with footfall and sales in bazaars reaching nearly pre-pandemic levels.
“This is in no small part due to the support provided by Boost, which has helped us to attract more customers with its attractive offers and smooth digital payments,” says Kak Long, owner of Syakiya Nasi Lemak Kukus.
Ramadan Bazaar Boost merchants
Malaysians can be on the lookout for their favourite buka-puasa delicacies in preparation for iftar this Ramadan season and enjoy massive rewards from ‘Boost-ed’ bazaar merchants at these locations:
- Padang Perbandaran Ampang Jaya (Pandan Indah), Kuala Lumpur
- Cyberjaya, Selangor
- Mahkota Square, Kuantan, Pahang
- Jalan Dato Pati, Kelantan
- Shahbandar, Terengganu
- Metro City, Sarawak
Eric Chong, Chief Executive Officer of Boost Biz, says it is encouraging to see hundreds of bazaar merchants nationwide adopting Boost as their preferred cashless payment platform this Ramadan season.
“This reflects our continuous effort to make digital solutions more accessible to MSMEs by empowering them with the necessary tools and support to eliminate customer pain points and accelerate their business growth in an increasingly mobile-first market. With half a million merchant touchpoints nationwide, we stand ready to help our community of merchants and MSMEs.”
Chong says the company aims to help the vendors continue their business aspirations through Boost’s ecosystem of innovative technology.
“The platform also offers financing application through the merchant app, along with a seamless offline-to-online retail experience, as Malaysia transitions towards the endemic phase.”
Semblance of normalcy
For Ungku Norliza Syazwan Ungku Halmie, Chief Executive Officer of Boost Life, Ramadan came with renewed hope and some semblance of normalcy.
“We have ramped up our offerings to delight our large base of nearly 10 million customers with our amazing ‘Kongsikan KeberkaTEN Ramadan’ rewards. From simplifying bill payments, online transactions, e-donations, contactless payments, and more, Malaysians can continue to rely on Boost as their one-stop lifestyle companion for their everyday needs.
“This is especially during this Ramadan season, to enjoy a seamless bazaar shopping experience with attractive incentives and discounts.”
Bazaar merchants at any of the ‘Boost-ed’ locations above can sign up as a participating Boost seller and offer greater convenience and safety for their staff and customers by registering here.
For smart shoppers seeking to maximise their savings through the Boost app, please visit here.
For local entrepreneurs who are in need of a Shariah-compliant micro-financing, please visit this website.