Homegrown pride: Nga (left) speaking to Todt (right) and Yeoh (on phone) at the Global Zero Waste Forum in Istanbul.
IPOH: An invitation has been extended to Tan Sri Michelle Yeoh to attend the launch of the Visit Malaysia 2026 tourism campaign in Kuala Lumpur.
Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming, who spoke to the Ipoh-born Oscar winner on the phone while meeting her husband Jean Todt at the Global Zero Waste Forum in Istanbul, Turkiye, yesterday, said the campaign will be launched by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim in January 2026.
Anwar will also officiate the lighting ceremony of Bukit Bintang’s Walk of Fame, which would symbolise the start of the campaign.
Nga expressed hope that Yeoh could help promote the tourism campaign.
Malaysia, he said, has become one of Asia’s most sought-after travel destinations this year.
“By the end of 2025, tourist arrivals are expected to exceed 40 million – an 18.4% increase, surpassing Malaysia’s total population for the first time. Tourism now contributes 15% to Malaysia’s gross domestic product, making it the second largest source of national income.
“We must showcase the best of our culture, hospitality and cleanliness. To achieve the RM150bil revenue target for Visit Malaysia 2026, every citizen should play a role as a tourism ambassador and help the world discover ‘Malaysia Truly Asia’,” he said in a statement yesterday.
In his meeting with Todt, who is a United Nations Special Envoy for Road Safety, the two discussed ways to strengthen road safety through improved urban planning and building design, aimed at reducing traffic accidents and protecting road users.
The former chief executive officer of Ferrari also presented Nga with a signed copy of his latest book, The Silent Pandemic On The Road, while Nga gifted him a Malaysian batik necktie and scarf, symbolising Malaysia’s rich cultural heritage.
At the forum, Nga held a series of bilateral meetings with several dignitaries including Iran vice-president Dr Shina Ansari, Turkiye Environment, Urbanisation and Climate Change Minister Murat Kurum and Global Zero Waste Foundation chairman Samed Agirbas.
These engagements were meant to strengthen Malaysia’s partnerships in areas such as sustainable development, housing and zero-waste initiatives.
Malaysia also received the Global Zero Waste Special Citation Award at the forum, which recognises the country’s growing influence in the global sustainability movement towards cleaner, greener and more resilient cities.
