By: Zaki Salleh
TAIPING — A creative and visitor-friendly initiative has been introduced to familiarise the public with Malaysia’s tourism mascots, Wira and Manja, ahead of the Visit Malaysia 2026 (VM2026) campaign.
The initiative saw more than 100 mascot statues featuring the adorable sun bear characters displayed at the Taiping Lake Gardens, turning the Raintree Walk into a popular photo spot for visitors.
Held in conjunction with the upcoming VM2026 campaign, the display attracted visitors who stopped to admire and capture photographs of the bear statues set against the scenic backdrop of the park.
The programme was organised by the offices of the Taiping Member of Parliament and State Assemblyman, in collaboration with the Global Harmony Foundation.
Support was also extended by the Selangor and Kuala Lumpur Chinese Night Market Hawkers and Food Truck Association, the KL and Selangor Chinese Sports Writers Association, as well as the Raintree Art Market.
Apart from the Taiping Lake Gardens, the Wira and Manja mascots have also made appearances at Dataran Warisan Taiping, Taiping Public Market, the 150th Anniversary Memorial Park and other key attractions around the town.
Wira and Manja are Malaysia’s official tourism mascots for the Visit Malaysia 2026 campaign.
The sun bear characters symbolise Malaysia’s rich wildlife, cultural diversity and commitment to conservation, while conveying a refreshed “Malaysia Truly Asia” message aimed at attracting visitors of all ages.
Wira, the male bear, wears a batik scarf, while Manja, the female bear, is adorned with a batik shawl and ribbon, reflecting national unity and heritage.
