IN a sense, there will be an aura of success about Malaysia in the English Championship new season which kicks off next month.
The Cardiff City team are set to replace the "Visit Malaysia" slogan in favour of "Malaysia Berjaya" (Malaysia success) on the front of their jerseys for the 2020-2021 Championship.
The Bluebirds will launch their new "Malaysia Berjaya" jersey in Cardiff this week.
Cardiff City owner Tan Sri Vincent Tan, while revealing this yesterday, stressed that his goal remains unchanged — which is to make Malaysia popular as a holiday destination.
Apart from a dual purpose, "Malaysia Berjaya" promotes both the country and the Berjaya Group which Tan founded, there is also a national patriotic song that goes by the same title.
"As I said before, I am a patriot and Malaysia will always be a priority for me," said Tan.
"I am always open to ideas and collaboration with the Malaysian government to promote the country.
"In my 10 years with Cardiff, I received sponsorships worth RM15 million during the 2013/2014 season when Datuk Seri Nazri Abdul Aziz was Minister of Tourism and Culture."
That was when Tan started using the "Visit Malaysia" slogan with Cardiff City.
And until today, Tan said he is grateful to Nazri and the Malaysian government for coming in to promote the country through Cardiff City globally.
"The front of the (Cardiff) jersey is very exclusive. Would-be sponsors understand and appreciate the exposure and mileage gained from advertising their products on the front of the jersey.
"But because of my love for my country, I have always reserved that exclusive spot for Malaysia.
"The slogan will thus be 'Malaysia Berjaya' from the coming season onwards.
"The slogan not only reflects my patriotism but amplifies my sentiments (as the founder of Berjaya Group)," he added.
Cardiff City will begin the new season against Sheffield Wednesday on Sept 12.
Last season, the Bluebirds finished fifth with 73 points from 46 games. They qualified for the Premier League playoffs but lost 3-2 on aggregate to Fulham.
Besides Cardiff City, Tan also owns Belgian Division One club, KV Kortrijk, who recently signed Malaysia's young striker, Luqman Hakim Shamsudin, for five years.
Md Fariq is a freelance writer