The COVID-19 pandemic has been tough on every one.

A lot of Malaysians have lost their jobs and countless business such as hotels, restaurants and fashion retailers have been forced to close down.

In fact, this report revealed that around 92.5 per cent of small businesses in Malaysia now have a negative outlook for Malaysian economy for the rest of 2020.

A lot of small businesses, including hawkers, are affected.
Despite the support given by the government, chances are that most of these businesses will be forced to close down due to a variety of factors.

So, in conjunction with the Merdeka month and the #KitaJagaKita spirit, one local retailer is committed to helping small business owners stay afloat during these tough times.

Lending a helping hand

Tesco is always ready to lend a helping hand.
Tesco has long been a big supporter of local-made products, and this is reflected in its Tesco Own Brand food products, of which 80 per cent are proudly Malaysian made.

And with their ‘Hero Bangkit’ campaign, Tesco is looking to further help small local businesses affected by the COVID-19 pandemic to find their footing.

Tesco’s Customer Director, Vivian Yap, said that the brand is touched and inspired by the entrepreneurial spirit shown by Malaysians during the COVID-19 pandemic, especially how they are rising above adversity by starting their home-grown businesses.

For all you small heroes out there.
The ‘Hero Bangkit’ campaign is just a way for Tesco to show that they recognise all their hard work.

“Our ‘Hero Bangkit’ contest is designed to recognise and further empower these resilient entrepreneurs who have not just survived but are thriving during these challenging times,” she said.

The campaign, which will run from 6 to 30 August, will see a total of 10 local entrepreneurs winning a total of RM50,000 worth of Tesco vouchers, as well as free advertising packages that will be aired on Astro Radio’s terrestrial plus announcement on TV to help them spread word on their businesses.

Even those who want to start a business can take part.
The best part is: not only is this campaign open to existing small business owners in Malaysia, those who are thinking of starting their own business but lacking the means to do so can also take part in this contest.

So, if you’ve always wanted to start your own small bakery after picking up baking skills during the Movement Control Order (MCO), this is the best time to do so.

How do you take part in this campaign?

It’s actually pretty simple: all you have to do is to visit the official ‘Hero Bangkit’ microsite and fill in a form.

You would then be required to share how your business has been affected by the pandemic, how they plan to rebuild it and of course, why they chosen to be one of the winners.


Do note that you can only send in one entry (give chance lah to other people) and that you need to be a Malaysian aged 18 and above to take part.

If you fulfil all the criteria above, then what are you waiting for? It’s time to send in that entry and turn your small bakery from a dream into a reality.

You can play a part too!

If you don’t have a business proposal but you would love to help your fellow Malaysian entrepreneurs realise their small business dreams, you can actually play a part too!

Once Tesco compiles all of the entries, you can vote for your favourite pitch on the ‘Hero Bangkit’ microsite from 31 August to 4 September.


At 8.30pm on 7 September, the winners will be announced on the microsite, radio stations ERA and MY, as well as hlive on Astro RIA HD (Ch104) and Astro RIA (Ch124) simultaneously.

So, what are you waiting for? With a helping hand from Tesco, your dream of starting your own small business is one step closer to becoming a reality.

Remember to also spread the word and let your friends know, especially those whose businesses have been affected by the pandemic.

For more information, head on over to Tesco Malaysia’s official Facebook page here.