12-July-2018- Major associations in Malaysia have created history when they formed the country’s first beauty and wellness coalition. The representatives of these associations gathered at the Cosmobeaute Asia 2018 trade exhibition to sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to unite the beauty and wellness alliance on one platform.
The Beauty and Wellness Coalition strives to be a voice for industry players.
In his keynote address, ECMI ITE Asia Sdn Bhd managing director CP Saw, the founder and organiser of Cosmobeaute Asia 2018 in Malaysia, said they had received support from the associations to form the coalition. “This is just the beginning. I hope this coalition will help the beauty and wellness industry in Malaysia,” said Saw.
The representatives at the MoU were Malaysian Make Up and Hairdressing Artistry Association advisor Geraldine Loy, International Nails Competition Association director Erin Eng, Malaysian Association of Wellness and Spa (MAWSPA) president Dr Baskaran Kosthi, Association of International Certified Aestheticians president Prof. Dr Ng Wee Kiong, Persatuan Anggun Menawan Malaysia president Alvin Loh, Malaysian Esthetic Association president Julie Lew Yoke Peng, Association of Malaysian Spas (AMSPA) vice-president Hana Halim and Joanne Lau, who acted on behalf of Asia Hair Association co-founder of Datin Winnie Loo.
A coalition chairman has yet to be elected, but the goal of the grouping is to be a united voice to collectively address the challenges and issues faced by everyone in the beauty and wellness industry across country.
The Malaysian beauty and wellness industry is growing at 10 – 15% annually, with a turnover estimated at five billion ringgit (USD1.2billion)
The reputation and image of the beauty industry has to be protected. “We want people to change their mind-set and respect this profession. Only then parents will have confidence to send their children for beauty courses,” said Loh, who also added that she hoped the coalition would help monitor the standard of beauticians and makeup artistes. Ng wanted the coalition to assist in various aspects relevant to the beauty industry, including laws.
Dr Baskaran said they wanted to upgrade the skills of the locals and create opportunities for them to hold top posts in the industry. “We need 6,000 therapists to be skilful agents and hold managerial, supervisory and directorial posts,” he said adding that operators had to bring in workers from Indonesian, Thailand and Singapore to lead and manage the spas in the country.
