By Vijian Paramasivam
PHNOM PENH, Jan 9 (Bernama) -- A group of former civil servants has embarked on a special national mission, travelling across three countries in the region to promote Visit Malaysia Year 2026.
Continuing their legacy of public service, 38 veterans are journeying through rugged border crossings, rivers and mountainous terrain from Thailand to Cambodia and Laos.
Datuk Abd Rahim Hashim, the convoy’s director, said the Trans ASEAN Madani Convoy, which arrived in the Cambodian capital Phnom Penh on Tuesday, has already clocked about 4,000 kilometres since its departure from Kuala Lumpur on Jan. 1.
“We are all retired civil servants and we are travelling to promote the concept of Malaysia Madani and Visit Malaysia Year 2026.
“We are trying to engage with local counterparts to bring in more tourists to Malaysia this year,” he told Bernama on Thursday.
They aim to cover a total of about 7,500 during their challenging journey to promote Malaysia as an outstanding tourist destination in Southeast Asia.
“We have distributed about 2,000 goodie bags and pamphlets during our journey so far. We also met two senior Cambodian ministers to share our objectives.
“It has been an exciting journey for us in Cambodia in promoting our country,” said Rahim, who is also the Koperasi Perumahan Awam Malaysia (KOPAMA) Berhad’s Chairman.
In Phnom Penh, the convoy paid courtesy calls to Cambodian Senior Minister in charge of Special Mission Datuk Othsman Hasan and Tourism Minister Huot Hak on Thursday.
Malaysian Ambassador to Cambodia Shaharuddin Onn welcomed the convoy to Phnom Penh.
The convoy departs for Vientiane, the capital of Laos, Friday and will return home on January 16.
The nine-vehicle expedition is jointly organised by Angkatan Koperasi Kebangsaan Malaysia Bhd (Angkasa), the Malaysia 21st Century ASEAN–Japan Friendship Association (PAMAJA) and KOPAMA.
It is part of the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture’s initiative to promote the tourism sector that aims to woo 47 million visitors this year.
-- BERNAMA
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