19 April 2013—The Philippine Embassy in Kuala Lumpur reported today that it strengthened its working partnership with a leading Philippine telecommunications company when a delegation from PLDT Global paid a courtesy call on Ambassador J. Eduardo Malaya on April 17.

The delegation was led by Executive Vice President and Head of Enterprise and International Carrier Businesses of SMART and PLDT Ernesto Alberto. Also present during the meeting was Celcom Axiata Bhd Vice President for Business Development, Partnership and mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) Ameen Amaendran Abdullah, PLDT-Malaysia/SMART Pinoy Chief Executive Officer Syed Darwish Bederi II and other PLDT-Global and PLDT Malaysia/SMART Pinoy officials.

Mr. Alberto thanked the Embassy for its partnership and assistance to them in helping them reach out to Filipino nationals in Malaysia through its participation in Embassy-sponsored events, and has extended its willingness to assist the Embassy in its other initiatives.

For his part, Ambassador Malaya expressed his appreciation to PLDT Global for its assistance to Embassy-sponsored events, and hopes that the partnership will expand in the future.

The meeting also discussed updates on the partnership between PLDT Global and Celcom, as well as ways on how Post and PLDT-Malaysia/SMART Pinoy can work together on future partnerships, including assistance in its information dissemination programs, such as during the overseas absentee voting (OAV) exercise and in informing the Filipino community in Sabah of its consular missions, in line with its corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives.

In December 2011, PLDT Global and Celcom signed an MVNO agreement to offer mobile prepaid services to Filipinos in Malaysia through SMART Pinoy, where its users can enjoy two numbers—a local Malaysian number and a Philippine number—in one SIM card. It has also pioneered the use of micro-remittances by allowing its subscribers to send "top-up" (mobile phone load credits) to loved ones in the Philippines.

Other Filipino companies active in Malaysia include Petron Corporation, Century Motolite Battery Sdn Bhd, URC Snack Foods Sdn. Bhd., Axexorize (M) Sdn. Bhd., BML Excellent Combination Sdn. Bhd. and Pancake House International Malaysia. END