Boost keeps CNY traditions alive virtually

• Brings back e-Ang Pow feature to retain CNY gifting tradition
• Aimed at supporting local entrepreneurs through tougher times

LOCAL e-wallet player Boost has brought back its e-Ang Pow feature to its wallet aimed at offering deals and cashback for consumers and merchants to encourage safe, cashless and contactless shopping this Chinese Lunar New Year (CNY).

With almost no physical extended family reunion dinners and house hopping this year following the extension of the Movement Control Order (MCO), this e-Ang Pow is part of a larger #BoostGotYou campaign launched in March 2020 during the first MCO as Malaysians learned to stay safe in the new normal.

The company claimed in a statement that the #BoostGotYou campaign features innovative services and solutions for Malaysians to carry out necessary tasks with contactless convenience such as paying bills, buying prepaid top-ups to stay connected with loved ones, going online shopping, getting insurance protection and supporting local merchants.

“This year’s CNY celebration will be slightly different with many families having virtual gatherings but we’re still trying to emulate the excitement of CNY by bringing back the e-Ang Pow feature,” said Ungku Norliza Syazwan Ungku Halmie, director of product and marketing at Boost.

“Most importantly, we hope to protect our community with a safer online shopping experience so that our users can still enjoy the CNY festive spirit. We would also like to encourage fellow Malaysians to continue to support local merchants in this challenging time to help them sustain their businesses.”

Users can choose from six vibrant e-Ang Pow packet designs with the option to include a personalised greeting as a way to retain the all-important Ang Pow gifting tradition to spread good luck and blessings.

They can also send a customised e-Ang Pow up to 10 people at any one time in equal or different amounts for each recipient. Malaysians can also choose to channel their e-Ang Pows as e-donations to a list of NGOs and charities found in the Boost app.

Premium Boost users can send and receive e-Ang Pows, while basic e-wallet users can only receive. The recipient of the e-Ang Pow must open within 12 hours upon receiving it, otherwise, the e-Ang Pow value will be returned to the sender. 

Support local merchants

Boost merchants themselves can look forward to more CNY cheer as they stand to win up to US$110,879 (RM450,000) worth of prizes and rewards under the newly launched ‘Boost Jer Kaw-Kaw & Menang!’ campaign for merchants.

[RM1 = US$0.246]

Prizes in this campaign include a grand prize of a Proton X50 Executive, premium Samsung and Apple gadgets, as well as consolation prizes of RM888 for 30 merchants weekly.

With the MCO still in place, traditional brick-and-mortar merchants can continue to run their businesses by transacting and accepting payments via the Boost Business Payment Link feature to simplify payment collection.

This feature allows their customers to make purchases online using familiar platforms like WhatsApp. From now till April 3, every RM10 a user spends via the Boost Business Payment Link or by scanning the physical Boost QR in-stores will earn them one entry to potentially win prizes. The higher the transaction amount, the more entries the merchant will receive.

Meanwhile, users can take advantage of Boost’s ‘Catalogue Full of Fortune’ after accumulating Boost coins from their CNY shopping. They can exchange their Boost Coins earned to redeem special festive hampers, festive designer masks, premium seafood, on top of cashback for groceries and petrol.

Boost Coins can also be used for entries to win exclusive prizes in the BoostUP Pick&Win section. Exclusive prizes up for grabs this CNY include RM888 Shopee vouchers, iPhone 12 smartphones, GoPro cameras and a pewter Ox figurine by Royal Selangor to signify prosperity, good health and fortune.