By: Zaki Salleh
IPOH – Ipoh’s status as a preferred destination has soared as it becomes the fifth city to host the DE Rantau program, aiming to establish Malaysia as a digital nomad hub in the region.
The initiative by Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC) targets professionals, including Penang, Langkawi, Kuala Lumpur, and Melaka.
DE Rantau is a program aimed at positioning Malaysia as the preferred digital nomad hub in Southeast Asia, simultaneously boosting digital adoption and promoting professional mobility and tourism nationwide.
The launch event was officiated by the Chief Minister, Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad.
He stated that digital nomads are also allowed to work for up to a year through the Specialised Visit Pass (PLK) issued to foreigners who wish to perform specific tasks and work temporarily in the country.
“Ipoh’s selection as the fifth city is noteworthy as this collaboration can contribute to the growth of our tourism sector and local economy. This aligns with Visit Ipoh 2023 and the preparations for Visit Perak 2024.
“We warmly welcome MDEC to establish more hubs in Perak, and we are ready for any collaboration,” he said during his speech at the event.
Also present were the Tourism, Industry, Investment, and Corridor Development Executive Councillor, Loh Sze Yee, and the Communications, Multimedia, and NGOs Executive Councillor, Mohd Azlan Helmi.
Meanwhile, the CEO of MDEC, Ts Mahadhir Aziz, mentioned that selecting Ipoh would contribute to the digital advancement of the city by involving various players from the global and local digital economy industries.
He stated that currently, there are 1,153 DE Rantau Hubs in Penang, Langkawi, Kuala Lumpur, Melaka, and the latest addition, Ipoh.
“Since the opening of DE Rantau@Ipoh Hub applications in June, MDEC, in collaboration with Tourism Perak, has already recognized 19 DE Rantau Hubs in Ipoh,” he added.
