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Cheras LeisureMall marks 30 years as a community landmark, rewarding 30 shoppers with grand prizes
A Legacy of Connection and Community
For three decades, it has stood as an enduring landmark in Klang Valley, a pioneer among shopping malls that has grown alongside generations of Malaysians. As it marks its 30th Anniversary this year, the mall celebrates its rich legacy and looks ahead to a vibrant, revitalised future.
Since its grand opening in 1995, Cheras LeisureMall has been more than just a shopping destination—it has been a cherished part of the community. As one of the first malls in the region, Cheras LeisureMall introduced a new era of retail and entertainment, providing a space where families, friends, and businesses could gather.
Over the years, it has evolved into a beloved neighbourhood hub, fostering relationships and shared experiences that transcend generations. The mall’s unique charm, nostalgia and character ensure its lasting relevance to the surrounding communities.
Despite its smaller size compared to the newer mega-malls, with approximately 280,000 square feet of net lettable area (NLA), Cheras LeisureMall has consistently remained one of the most popular malls in Cheras. Its wide variety of shops, F&B outlets, and leisure activities make it a favourite destination for the entire family.
Part of its lasting appeal is the mall’s ability to adapt to meet changing market trends and customer expectations amidst a rapidly evolving retail landscape and economic fluctuations.
Another feature that makes Cheras LeisureMall unique is its lasting bond with tenants, consistently maintaining a 90% occupancy rate over the decades. Several long-standing tenants that have been a part of the mall since its inception include Eu Yan Sang, Poh Kong, Popular, McDonald’s, Guardian, Baskin-Robbins, Cheinhoong Florist, Minit Cobbler, Sox World and AsterSpring. Other long-standing tenants such as Watsons, Wah Chan, Ogawa, Bata, Dalun and many more remain among the community’s favourites.
This long-standing relationship with tenants has drawn its own set of loyal customers, many of whom grew up with and continue to frequent the same outlets with their children and grandchildren. In many ways, the tenants have helped create many lasting memories for shoppers that transcends generations.
While the occupancy rate was affected during the COVID19 pandemic, the occupancy rate quickly rose to pre-pandemic levels of 96% occupancy within less than two years. This rapid growth in occupancy stands as a testament to Cheras LeisureMall’s key presence as a central neighbourhood hub in the community of Taman Segar, Cheras.
F&B outlets saw a spike in demand post-pandemic, with shoppers more willing to spend on dining out and enjoying new experience. This surge saw the rapid opening of several F&B tenants such as a food court – Food City, Old Nanyang Café, one of the largest ZUS Coffee outlets in Malaysia and many more.
The mall also saw continuous demand for technology and digital products, which led to several new tech brands opening at Cheras LeisureMall, such as Huawei, HONOR, Realme and many more.
As the mall progresses with time, it evolves and attract changes in providing new shopping and dining experiences.
Cheras Plaza, an ever-evolving commercial building
The adjacent building, Cheras Plaza, has also enjoyed a storied history since its opening in 1987, growing and complementing Cheras LeisureMall’s offerings.
Cheras Plaza housed the first Japanese department store, Chujitsu, outside of Japan, which strongly attracted many surrounding residents. The building became a centre of education when Sedaya College took over the entire premises. Eventually in 2002, the building was converted into an office tower, thus renamed as Cheras Plaza.
In 2023, the entire building saw a major facelift, with a modern new aluminium façade and a transformed lobby. Air conditioning, new lifts and an upgraded cashless parking system provide all the conveniences of modern design with its charming past.
Presently, the building has two main tenants on its ground and mezzanine floors: Hua Yuan Seafood and Sing V Karaoke, while offices occupy the upper floors.
These two new establishments position Cheras Plaza as not just a premier office location but a dining and entertainment hub in the bustling Taman Segar neighbourhood.
Growing with the times
For many, Cheras LeisureMall was one of the very first malls in the Klang Valley that offered an indoor amusement park, bowling alley or cinema, making it a must-visit destination for visitors.
It has undergone several rounds of refurbishments over the years to continue staying relevant to the evolving needs of consumers. The indoor theme park and bowling alley made way in the early 2000s to a plethora of dining options and expanded net lettable area, offering cuisines from different parts of the world.
Both blocks have seen continuous upgrades and improvements, both in its building renovations and diverse tenancy mix, ensuring it stays up to date with the needs of its shoppers and tenants. The introduction of key tenants such as Fitness First in 2005, Village Grocer and Grand senQ in 2022, which was one of the first exclusive concept senQ outlets in Malaysia, continue shaping its unique offerings to its customers.
The mall took a pioneering step towards sustainability by installing 360 solar panels on its rooftop back in 2009, with a peak capacity of 64.8 kWp.
In 2009, the initial food court was renovated into what stands as Cravings Lane on Level 1, offering a wide range of new F&B options available. This area saw another facelift with a dedicated pedestrian link to the adjacent Taman Mutiara MRT station was unveiled in 2018, further enhancing its connectivity and drawing a wider audience to Cheras LeisureMall, such as students, working adults and tourists.
Despite the changes, certain features such as the mall’s iconic linkbridge connecting both buildings and the Lower Ground Concourse which hosts all the mall’s large festivities has remained unchanged.
Beloved community traditions
In line with its identity as a neighbourhood mall, festive traditions have become an integral part of its DNA, whether its Chinese New Year, Hari Raya Aidilfitri, Deepavali, Mid-Autumn or Christmas.
The sound of cymbals during acrobatic lion dance performances for Chinese New Year remain an annual mainstay for surrounding residents till today. In the late 90s, it was a rare treat to witness performers leaping from pole to pole and attracting visitors from far and wide.
The mall’s Mid-Autumn Lantern Competition, which was introduced in 1996, remains an annual affair with a unique grassroots twist in 2024. The mall had set a new record recently in the Malaysia Book of Records for The Most Handpainted Lanterns by Children, with over 1,500 lanterns made by schoolchildren from 14 primary schools.
The annual Christmas Toy Bank initiative, which first started in 2002, continues to be a year-end tradition for Cheras folks, with hundreds of gifts donated yearly to children in various charity homes.
Today, the mall remains a popular venue for a wide variety of community activities, such as various safety awareness events, pet adoption drives, regular blood donation drives, wildlife conservation event, the division’s long-term sustainability initiative The REplace Project, kiosks for needy NGOs and charity homes and many more.
Rewarding shoppers with The Grand 30 Giveaway
Thirty lucky shoppers walked away with 30 prizes in honour of Cheras LeisureMall’s milestone anniversary, including a Haval H6 HEV, an Ogawa Vivre massage chair, Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra, 12g of 999 12 Zodiac Gold Beans, Travelog travel vouchers worth RM3,888 and many more.
The spend and win contest, The Grand 30 Giveaway ran from 15 February to 20 April 2025. Shoppers who spend a minimum of RM300 at any participating outlets were eligible to submit an entry and stand a chance to win one of the attractive prizes.
The atmosphere at the prize presentation ceremony was filled with anticipation, with over 2,000 submissions. The participants gathered to witness the live draw event held at the mall’s Lower Ground Concourse in the hopes to winning the grand prize.
The contest was held to reward its shoppers who have been an invaluable part of Cheras LeisureMall’s rich legacy in Taman Segar, Cheras since its grand opening on 24 April 1995.
Celebrating 30 Years and Beyond
As Cheras LeisureMall enters its fourth decade, numerous exciting developments are in progress. Asset enhancement works in key strategic areas of the mall will refresh its ambiance. The phased improvements include introducing new alfresco areas along the ground floor, enhancing mall entrances for better customer arrival experiences, modernising and upgrading facilities, and many other initiatives that are set for the near future.
The mall had expanded its green initiatives by adding over 1,440 new solar panels in 2024 with a peak system capacity of 900 kWp. These efforts aim to generate clean, renewable energy and reduce its carbon footprint.
The mall management is evaluating and enhancing the tenant mix to attract new and prominent brands that best serve the community’s evolving needs. This ongoing effort ensures that Cheras LeisureMall remains a vibrant and relevant hub for shopping, dining, and leisure activities.
The mall is also committed to long-term sustainability efforts, namely The REplace Project which installed designated recycling areas and a bag sharing corner to promote green living within the community.
Recently, the mall has embraced digitalisation, redefining customer engagement with the introduction of the PLAYCE app. This new loyalty app aims to make shopping and rewards more seamless and enjoyable for patrons while fostering close collaboration with tenants.
For further information about the latest happenings at Cheras LeisureMall, please visit its Facebook and Instagram pages.
Hashtag: #PPB
https://www.cherasleisuremall.com.my/
https://www.facebook.com/CLeisureMall
https://www.instagram.com/cheras_leisuremall/?hl=en
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
About Cheras LeisureMall
Cheras LeisureMall, a popular family-friendly destination in Cheras since 1994 celebrates its latest milestone with its 30th Anniversary. The neighbourhood landmark provides a host of integrated retail, F&B and leisure activities designed to cater to the needs of the Cheras community.
Cheras LeisureMall is owned and managed by PPB Properties – the property division of PPB Group Berhad, which is an investment holding and property investment company listed on the Main Market of Bursa Malaysia Securities Berhad.
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Etiqa Insurance Singapore Appoints Claudia Soh as Chief Executive Officer to Lead Next Chapter of Growth
Veteran insurance leader to accelerate growth, strengthen partnerships and drive customer-focused innovation
SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 14 August 2026 – Etiqa Insurance Singapore today announced the official appointment of Claudia Soh as its Chief Executive Officer (CEO), effective 14 Aug 2026. Over the past six months, while serving as Acting Chief Executive Officer and continuing in her role as Chief Financial Officer, Claudia has led Etiqa Insurance Singapore through a period of sustained growth and transformation, strengthening the company’s foundations while driving initiatives focused on innovation, operational excellence, and customer-centricity. Her appointment reflects the Board’s confidence in her leadership and vision as the company embarks on its next phase of growth.
With more than 20 years of experience in the financial services and insurance industry, Claudia brings extensive expertise across finance, strategic planning, risk management, mergers and acquisitions, investor relations and auditing. Her career spans both the public and private sectors, including experience at the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) and senior leadership roles within the insurance industry.
During her tenure at Etiqa, Claudia has helped build on the company’s strong momentum by supporting its growth agenda while advancing new initiatives. Her collaborative leadership approach and focus on long-term value creation have contributed to strengthening Etiqa’s capabilities for the future. She has also been an advocate for transforming the finance function from a traditional support role into a strategic business partner that helps create stronger outcomes for customers, employees and stakeholders.
“We are delighted to formally appoint Claudia Soh as CEO of Etiqa Insurance Singapore,” said Kamaludin, Group Chief Executive Officer, Etiqa Insurance and Takaful. “Claudia has demonstrated strong leadership, strategic clarity, operational excellence and resilience. Her ability to drive innovation, build strong teams and adapt to changing customer needs will continue to strengthen our market position in Singapore to deliver long-tern value for our customers, employees and stakeholders”
On her appointment, Claudia said, “I am honoured to undertake the role of CEO at Etiqa Insurance Singapore at a time of significant change for our industry. As customer expectations continue to evolve, we must remain agile, innovative and focused on delivering purposeful value. By combining digital innovation, data-driven insights and strong partnerships, we will continue to enhance the customer experience and help more individuals and businesses build financial confidence and resilience.”
Deepening Partnerships and Empowering Financial Readiness
As a leading composite insurer, Etiqa Insurance Singapore will continue to deepen its distribution capabilities and ecosystem partnerships to make protection more accessible and relevant to customers. Beyond its longstanding bancassurance partnership, Etiqa will work closely with Maybank to deliver more integrated financial and protection solutions, leveraging the strength of the Maybank network and customer ecosystem. Etiqa will also continue collaborating with partners across Singapore to develop innovative solutions that support customers’ evolving protection, savings and financial wellness needs.
Hashtag: #EtiqaInsuranceSingapore
https://www.etiqa.com.sg/The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
About Etiqa Insurance Pte. Ltd. (Etiqa Insurance Singapore)
Protecting customers since 1961, Etiqa Insurance Pte. Ltd. (EIPL) is a life and general insurance company licensed and regulated by the Monetary Authority of Singapore and governed by the Insurance Act 1966. Having protected customers in Singapore since 1961 under the name United General Insurance Co. Sdn. Bhd., the company transitioned into the Singapore branch of Etiqa Insurance Berhad in 2009. Today, EIPL in Singapore stands as the pivotal operating entity of Etiqa Insurance Group, a leading insurance and takaful provider in ASEAN.
EIPL offers a comprehensive range of life and general insurance products accessible through its diverse distribution channels, including bancassurance, agents, brokers, financial advisers, partnerships, direct and online sales via Tiq by Etiqa. Etiqa is rated ‘A’ by credit rating agency Fitch for the group’s ‘Favorable’ business profile. The company is a member of the Maybank Group.
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Airwallex and Air Corporate Launch One-Step Setup for Hong Kong Startups to Deliver Day-One Transaction Readiness
New partnership turns incorporation into a transaction-ready business in a single application — and sponsors 10 founders every month with a free upgrade to the fully-managed Expert package
Hong Kong SAR– Media OutReach Newswire – 14 August 2026 – Air Corporate, a Hong Kong-based digital corporate services provider, and Airwallex, a leading global payments and financial platform for modern businesses, have announced a strategic partnership that eliminates one of the most persistent friction points in business setup: the need to complete two separate applications for company registration and opening a payment account. Through a single application with Air Corporate, eligible founders now receive both a registered Hong Kong legal entity and a live Airwallex multi-currency account. To mark the launch, Airwallex and Air Corporate are sponsoring 10 Air Corporate clients each month with a complimentary upgrade to the fully-managed Expert package, removing the cost barrier that has historically kept early-stage founders on slower, self-managed paths.
The Two-Application Problem
Until now, setting up a business in Hong Kong has required two distinct processes. A founder first incorporates the company, then separately applies to a bank or payment provider, often resubmitting the same KYC, director, and shareholder documents that were already provided during incorporation. Approval timelines vary, rejections occur, and an incorporated company may remain unable to transact after the registration is complete. For founders trying to move quickly, this gap between incorporation and payment readiness has long been an operational obstacle.
One Application, Two Outcomes: The Expert Package
The Expert package serves as the primary component of this initiative. When a client onboards with Air Corporate under this tier, Air Corporate facilitates the entire Airwallex account-opening process on their behalf, thereby eliminating duplicate paperwork and the need for separate submissions to multiple providers. This consolidated approach allows founders to proceed from incorporation to operational status in as little as one to two weeks, compared to the typical weeks to months required for traditional banking solutions.
The Sponsorship: 10 Founders Every Month
Airwallex and Air Corporate are sponsoring a complimentary Expert upgrade for 10 Air Corporate clients each month. Founders who qualify receive a fully managed Airwallex account opening service at no additional cost. This is the same service available through the paid Expert tier. Sponsorship spots reset each month, with new availability opening to qualifying founders on an ongoing basis. Eligibility applies to new Air Corporate clients proceeding with company registration in Hong Kong, and available spots can be confirmed directly with the Air Corporate team.
Why Hong Kong?
Hong Kong remains the leading jurisdiction for founders entering Asian markets. Offshore profits are not subject to local tax; there are no foreign exchange controls; incorporation is fast; and the territory serves as a direct gateway to Mainland China and ASEAN. For international businesses, Hong Kong company registration has become the standard first step in a regional expansion strategy, given that the legal, regulatory, and financial infrastructure required to operate internationally is already in place.
What Airwallex Brings to the Partnership
Airwallex provides the payment infrastructure that enables day-one operability. Its platform supports multi-currency accounts, local collection in major currencies, foreign exchange at market-leading rates, and global payouts, all managed from a single interface. For founders operating across borders, having this capability active from the moment of incorporation removes the lag that typically delays first revenue and complicates early cash flow management.
Speaker Quote
“Our goal at Airwallex has always been to empower businesses to scale globally without borders or operational friction. Partnering with Air Corporate allows us to tackle one of the earliest and most persistent bottlenecks that founders face: the lag between becoming a legal entity and actually being able to transact. By consolidating company registration and financial setup into a single, seamless step, we are giving startups day-one operability so they can focus entirely on growth and building momentum from the very start,” said Marcus Cheng, Associate Director, GTM Partnerships, SME & Growth, Airwallex Hong Kong.
Who This Is For
This solution is built for e-commerce brands, cross-border trade, professional service providers, , and first-time founders expanding into or out of Asia who need to be fully operational and able to collect payments upon registration, without having to manage two separate onboarding processes simultaneously.
Available Now
Founders can apply directly through Air Corporate and check the availability of the monthly sponsored Expert upgrade spots. Further information is available at Air-Corporate.com/hk/Airwallex. Terms and conditions apply.
Hashtag: #Air-Corporate
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
As a leading overseas payment service provider (PSP), PayerMax has integrated Rakuten Pay to enable international merchants to adopt this payment method in Japan. This integration marks a significant milestone in the technical collaboration, successfully supporting merchants in leveraging Rakuten Pay for their local operations.
The milestone not only enhances the localized payment experience for Last War players in Japan, but also demonstrates how international game publishers can leverage trusted local payment partnerships to accelerate market entry, strengthen localization and better engage Japanese consumers.
Connecting with Japanese Players Starts with Local Payments
As more global game publishers expand into Japan, localized payment experiences have become an increasingly important part of player acquisition, monetization and long-term growth.
As one of the flagship payment services within the Rakuten Ecosystem, Rakuten Pay plays a central role in Japan’s digital commerce landscape. The Rakuten Ecosystem connects more than 100 million registered members across e-commerce, financial services, travel, mobile and offline retail, and Rakuten Pay has become one of Japan’s most widely adopted local payment methods.
For international game publishers, integrating Rakuten Pay is about more than offering another payment option. It provides access to one of Japan’s most established consumer ecosystems, allowing games to deliver payment experiences aligned with local player preferences while building stronger engagement in one of the world’s most competitive gaming markets.
Supporting Last War Highlights PayerMax’s Local Payment Expertise in Japan
As one of the fastest-growing strategy games worldwide, Last War continues to expand its global footprint, with Japan representing one of its key strategic markets. As expectations for localized payment experiences continue to rise, enabling familiar and trusted local payment methods has become an important part of enhancing player experience and supporting sustainable growth.
With support from PayerMax, Last War successfully integrated Rakuten Pay, becoming a leading overseas game to support the payment method and offering Japanese players a more localized and seamless payment experience.
Designed to support international businesses entering Japan, PayerMax provides a unified payment solution that bridges the gap between global merchants and the local ecosystem. By leveraging PayerMax’s integration with Rakuten Pay, PayerMax serves as a gateway for international businesses to establish a strong presence in the Japanese market.
Faster Market Entry
Through PayerMax’s system integration with Rakuten Payment, eligible merchants benefit from a standardized integration pathway that shortens implementation timelines and accelerates go-to-market execution in Japan.
Reliable Compliance and Fund Management Enablement
Leveraging the established business relationships between PayerMax and Rakuten Pay, merchants are empowered to integrate Rakuten Pay through a streamlined, standardized pathway which is aligned with Japan’s local regulatory and operational requirements, thereby delivering a payment experience that resonates with the everyday spending habits of Japanese players. Furthermore, within this collaborative framework, PayerMax and Rakuten Pay facilitate the unified orchestration of critical processes including KYC, anti‑money laundering (AML) and fund management, effectively alleviating the operational complexities and associated costs of local payment execution. This enables merchants to refocus their resources on sustainable business growth and enriched player engagement.
Access to Japan’s Consumer Ecosystem
Through PayerMax, businesses can better engage local consumers, strengthen brand presence and build sustainable long-term growth in Japan.
The successful integration for Last War not only demonstrates the commercial value of the partnership between PayerMax and Rakuten Payment, but also provides a proven reference for more global game publishers and digital content companies expanding into Japan.
Executive Quotes
Hiroki Sogawa, Executive Officer, Rakuten Payment, said:
“We are pleased to partner with PayerMax and to see Last War, a leading title, successfully integrate Rakuten Pay as a payment option. Through this collaboration, we look forward to supporting more international businesses and digital content providers in delivering trusted, localized payment experiences for Japanese consumers.”
Will, APAC General Manager of PayerMax, said:
“Integrating with Rakuten Pay marks an important milestone in PayerMax’s expansion of local payment capabilities in Japan. The successful launch of Last War reflects the strength of our partnership and demonstrates our ability to help global game publishers and international businesses localize faster through trusted local payment infrastructure. Looking ahead, we will continue working with leading local payment partners worldwide to deliver secure, compliant and scalable payment solutions for global merchants.”
Strengthening Local Payment Infrastructure for Global Growth
The partnership with Rakuten Payment represents another important milestone in PayerMax’s strategy to strengthen local payment infrastructure across key global markets and further expand its local payment capabilities in Japan.
Today, PayerMax supports businesses across more than 150 markets and offers access to over 600 payment methods worldwide, backed by an extensive network of local payment partners spanning Japan, Southeast Asia, the Middle East, Latin America and other high-growth regions.
Rather than simply aggregating payment methods, PayerMax focuses on connecting businesses with the local payment ecosystems that shape consumer behavior in each market. By combining enterprise-grade payment technology with trusted local partnerships, PayerMax enables international businesses to localize faster, operate more efficiently and achieve sustainable global growth.
Hashtag: #PayerMax #RakutenPay
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
