Kuching: Bandar Kuching MP Dr. Kelvin Yii Lee Wuen has called on the government to consider an ambitious collaboration with global streaming platform Netflix to stage a landmark live broadcast event as part of the Visit Malaysia 2026 campaign.
In a media statement, Dr. Yii proposed a live televised climb by renowned free-solo climber Alex Honnold on one of Malaysia’s iconic landmarks, such as Merdeka 118 or the Petronas Twin Towers.
He said the event could position Malaysia as a bold, modern, and forward-looking tourism destination while capturing global attention.
“This is not mere advertising, but a premium global media event capable of capturing the imagination of millions worldwide,” he said.
Dr. Yii cited Netflix’s recent live broadcast of Honnold’s climb of Taipei 101 as a proven model for global impact.
According to reports, the event generated extensive international media coverage and social media engagement, with an estimated talent cost of around USD500,000 (RM1.97 million) that yielded tens of millions of dollars’ worth of tourism publicity value for Taipei.
He said Malaysia is strategically well placed to replicate such a project, noting that Netflix is already integrated into Telekom Malaysia’s Unifi TV platform.
Telekom Malaysia, he added, has an established track record as a strategic partner to Tourism Malaysia, while the Film in Malaysia Incentive (FIMI) framework could support a production of this scale.
Dr. Yii described the proposal as a cost-efficient opportunity to significantly enhance Malaysia’s global tourism profile and rebrand the country’s image ahead of Visit Malaysia 2026.
He urged the Ministry of Tourism, Arts, and Culture to commission an immediate feasibility study to assess the viability of the proposal and consider making it a flagship initiative of the Visit Malaysia 2026 campaign.
