By Kenny Teng
BANGKOK, Jan 5 (Bernama) -- The Trans ASEAN MADANI Convoy, which will traverse three ASEAN countries, is expected to help boost the Visit Malaysia Year 2026 (VM2026) campaign as part of efforts to enable the country’s tourism sector to achieve its target of 47 million international visitors this year.
A representative of the Trans ASEAN MADANI Convoy 2026 organisers, Datuk Sahariman Hamdan, said the programme also aims to strengthen friendship and regional cooperation among ASEAN countries, while promoting the VM2026 campaign to communities across the region.
“This programme is intended to introduce Malaysia to the countries along the route, while strengthening and forging ties to reinforce friendship based on the spirit of togetherness as one ASEAN region,” he told Bernama here on Monday.
The convoy, which will pass through Thailand, Laos and Cambodia from Jan 1 to 16, 2026, is jointly organised by Angkatan Koperasi Kebangsaan Malaysia Bhd (Angkasa), the Malaysia 21st Century ASEAN–Japan Friendship Association (PAMAJA) and Koperasi Perumahan Awam Malaysia (Kopama) Bhd, in line with the VM2026 initiative under the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture.
Earlier, Malaysia’s Ambassador to Thailand, Datuk Wan Zaidi Wan Abdullah, officiated the flag-off of the Trans ASEAN MADANI Convoy at the Malaysian Embassy Complex here.
He said the programme was not merely a cross-border journey, but a strategic people-to-people diplomacy initiative aligned with the aspirations of Malaysia MADANI and the spirit of ASEAN regional cooperation.
“Initiatives such as this are crucial in supporting the national agenda towards inclusive and sustainable development, not only economically, but also in terms of social and cultural dimensions and regional understanding,” Wan Zaidi said.
Sahariman, who is also PAMAJA President, said that from Thailand, the convoy – comprising 14 vehicles and 65 participants from Malaysia – will continue its journey to Laos and Cambodia.
-- BERNAMA
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