Orchan Consulting | Asia Sdn Bhd

We talk a lot about “brand awareness” in Malaysia. Campaigns, events, social spends... everyone wants eyeballs. But let’s be honest: awareness is the easy part. What most brands can’t seem to crack is trust . And without trust, all that awareness is just noise. We’ve all seen it. A campaign goes viral, hashtags trend for a week... and then… silence. Or worse, the brand takes a hit when people start asking: “Okay, but do I actually believe them?” The Malaysian Trust Deficit Here’s the kicker: Malaysians are naturally sceptical. Years of over-promising (and under-delivering) have made audiences sharper, quicker to call out BS. Add to that the megaphone of social media, where one bad review on TikTok or a rant in a WhatsApp group can undo months of brand building. And let’s not pretend we haven’t seen brands get dragged in the comments -- sometimes deservedly, sometimes not. That’s the reality of reputation management in Malaysia today. We’ve sat with brands that had all the awarene...

A major Malaysian telco announces a flashy sustainability pledge on Earth Day: green filters, eco-hashtags, celebrity endorsement etc. Thousands of likes overnight. Weeks later, customers discover nothing has changed in their carbon-heavy operations. Cue viral thread, boycott calls, and corporate comms teams breaking into a cold sweat. Sound familiar? In Southeast Asia’s hyper-connected markets, “performative” moments aren’t just awkward - they’re career-enders. Performative communication is smoke and mirrors; the virtue signaling without the virtue. The glossy press release that promises the world but can’t even deliver a paper straw. The diversity campaign launched for PR points, while the boardroom still looks like it’s stuck in 1985. Purposeful communication ? That’s the real deal. Stories rooted in intent, backed by action, delivered with consistency. And in a region where 25 million Malaysians (74% of the population) live online, the watchdogs aren’t asleep. One skeptical TikT...

McDonald’s Malaysia just gave us all a throwback with its #YangKlasik campaign. VHS static , that grainy colour grading, and a Titiwangsa skatepark that looked like every after-school hangout spot in the 90s. For a second, you could almost hear your mum shouting, “Come home NOW!” while you were still nursing a 30 sen Paddle Pop ice-cream . It hit because it wasn’t just an ad. It was our ad - tied to memories only Malaysians would get. And it’s a perfect case study of throwback marketing in Malaysia , proving that sometimes, burgers aren’t what you’re selling... it’s belonging . Nostalgia Travels Well, But Speaks Different Languages Here’s the thing: nostalgia isn’t just a KL or Malaysia thing. It’s a worldwide play. But the way it lands? That depends entirely on culture . Around the world, brands are turning to nostalgic advertising campaigns to connect with customers: In the UK , brands go straight for personal nostalgia e.g., Saturday morning cartoons, 90s crisps, old j...

Strategic communications isn’t a “nice-to-have” anymore. In Malaysia, it has become a core business function i.e., shaping reputation, steering conversations, and helping organisations navigate a world where trust is currency. And here’s the reality: the brands that still treat PR as decoration will lose ground fast. The ones that view communications as capital will win. At Orchan, we’ve seen both sides of that equation -- startups that built credibility from day one and corporates that paid the price for silence when it mattered most. So, what’s next for strategic communications in Malaysia? Here’s what 2025 (and beyond) is bringing our way, and why it matters to your business. 1. Trust Will Be the Ultimate Differentiator Malaysians have always valued relationships but now trust sits at the heart of survival. Communities aren’t shy about holding brands accountable; one misstep can spiral across WhatsApp groups and TikTok in hours. The cost? Lost customers, shaken investor confi...

Every brand leader knows they should be building reputation, trust, and visibility. But when it comes time to commit to PR, out come the usual suspects: “PR is too expensive and doesn’t deliver ROI.” “We can do this in-house.” “Our brand isn’t ready for PR yet.” We’ve heard them all. They sound reasonable on the surface, but scratch a little deeper, and they fall apart. Let’s dig in. 1. “PR is too expensive and doesn’t deliver ROI.” “Smart PR isn’t a cost — it’s leverage that multiplies every marketing dollar you spend.” Look, no one likes tossing money into a black hole. But PR isn’t an expense - it’s a force multiplier. It turns marketing into momentum. PR doesn’t add noise; it builds compounding credibility. It is measurable. Reach, sentiment, share of voice, leads... we’re not flying blind here. Reputation has a price. Ask anyone who’s had to dig themselves out of a brand crisis. It compounds over time. Ads stop the moment the budget dries up. PR...

How Orchan Consulting Asia helps brands navigate change - from Peugeot’s reputation rebuild, to DFSK’s first electric van, to Kao’s trust-building with parents. Change isn’t a slogan – it’s messy, unpredictable, and often uncomfortable. But it’s also where growth lives. At Orchan, we’ve spent years helping brands navigate that tricky space between “what was” and “what’s next.” This series, Orchestrating Change: Stories from the Field , takes you behind the curtain. Real brands, real problems, and the strategies that turned the tide: from rebuilding Peugeot’s reputation before a major launch, to helping DFSK break ground with Malaysia’s first electric van, to showing Kao Malaysia how to win not just market share, but parent hearts. Each story shows one thing: change doesn’t happen by accident. It happens when you orchestrate it with purpose. When Reputation Hit the Brakes - Peugeot Malaysia and the 308 How Orchan Consulting Asia helped Peugeot Malaysia rebuild trust in the 308 throu...

At Orchan Consulting Asia, we’ve never believed in being “sector bound.” Whether it’s consumer brands, tech, F&B, or, in this case, sustainable mobility, we roll up our sleeves and get in the trenches to make sure our clients are seen, heard, and remembered. Recently, we had the opportunity to work with QC Fleet Management Sdn Bhd and DFSK for the launch of the DFSK EC35 all-electric van at the Malaysia Automotive, Robotics and IoT Institute (MARii), Cyberjaya. Beyond being another launch event, it was a milestone moment: an EV designed for last-mile delivery, SMEs, and businesses looking for sustainable fleet solutions . Why the DFSK EC35 Matters “Going green doesn’t have to be expensive.”  - Lim Khoon Yee, Managing Director of QC Fleet Management Sdn Bhd The EC35 proves that sustainability and practicality can co-exist. With zero carbon emissions, lower running costs, and practical design features , it’s positioned as a true workhorse for Malaysian businesses navigati...

Startups don’t have the luxury of time, and they sure don’t have the luxury of big budgets. You’re running lean, fighting for market share, and probably pitching to investors in the same week you’re onboarding your first customers. So why bother with PR - or even consider a PR agency for startups in Malaysia  - when every ringgit counts? Because in Malaysia’s crowded startup ecosystem, credibility isn’t a “nice-to-have.” It’s survival. Why PR Beats Ads (Especially for Startups) Let’s be blunt: you can buy ads. Anyone can. But attention isn’t the same as trust. A Google ad might get someone to click. A social campaign might rack up likes. But the right kind of PR gets you something money can’t buy: belief . People believe what third parties (media, thought leaders, even communities) say about you far more than what you say about yourself. And when you’re a startup - unknown, untested, and maybe a little misunderstood - credibility is the currency that opens doors. Investors, custom...

Crisis doesn’t knock politely. It barges in. One minute you’re trending for a clever campaign, the next you’re trending for all the wrong reasons. In Malaysia, where culture, community, and the court of public opinion move fast (and sometimes unforgivingly), managing a crisis is about more than issuing a statement. It’s about protecting trust when it matters most. So What Counts as a Crisis Today? In Malaysia, a “crisis” isn’t just a product recall or a shareholder scandal. These days it can be: A social media pile-on that starts with one unhappy customer. A regulatory slip-up that attracts headlines and ministry eyes. A cultural misstep that sparks outrage faster than you can say “delete tweet.”                                           Just look at the recent myBurgerLab incident (link below): a senior exec’s careless remark about Friday prayers didn’t just stay on Facebook; i...

When you search “best PR agency in Malaysia ,” you’ll find endless lists, awards, and glossy websites. Every agency claims to be the most creative, the most connected, or the most “integrated.” But the truth is: the best PR agency for your brand depends on more than hype or a clever tagline. At its core, public relations is about trust, reputation, and relationships. Choosing the right partner can make the difference between a campaign that fades after a press release, and one that builds lasting credibility. So, how do you separate the buzz from the substance? 1. Look Beyond the Hype A slick website or big client logos don’t tell the full story. Ask: What measurable impact did the agency deliver for those clients? Are there long-term relationships, or just one-off projects? Do they have sector-specific experience (e.g., fintech , lifestyle, NGOs) that matches your needs? The best PR partners don’t just chase headlines. They help you build brand equity over time. 2. Test Their Crisis...