Malaysia Shared Power Bank Market: SIRIM and VM2026

Introduction: Why Malaysia Is the Best-ROI Southeast Asian Market for Chinese Shared Power Bank Brands

Looking across the market windows of Southeast Asian countries, if you had to pick onewith the best return on investment and the mildest competitive landscapeas the shared power bank market to enter, the answer would beMalaysia。

Malaysia has three conditions that few other Southeast Asian countries can offer at the same time:

• A nation-level tourism dividend — 2026 is Visit Malaysia Year (VM2026), with the government targeting 47 million international visitors for the full year and committing RM 500 million (approx. RMB 850 million) to promotion and infrastructure;
• A low-penetration competitive vacuum — the whole country has fewer than 4,000 active shared power bank units, while the potential capacity based on population and foot traffic exceeds 150,000 units, a market penetration below 3% with no monopoly brand in sight;
• 23% ethnic Chinese population + a mature payment ecosystem — the Touch ’n Go (TNG) eWallet has over 23 million registered users, the DuitNow unified QR code works nationwide, and both Alipay and WeChat Pay can be used directly in Malaysia — Chinese visitors can pay the moment they land.

This article focuses on Malaysia alone, covering market fundamentals, SIRIM and MCMC compliance, the payment ecosystem, the three key scenes of Kuala Lumpur/Penang/Johor Bahru, the Honeycomb Era landing plan, and the go-to-market execution checklist — six dimensions that add up to a decision reference you can put straight into execution.

1. Malaysia Shared Power Bank Market: 4 Key Data Points

1.1 Data Point 1: VM2026 Targets 47 Million International Visitors

2026 marks Malaysia’s sixth national tourism year (Visit Malaysia Year 2026, themed “Surreal Experiences”). According to dedicated reports by Malaysia’s Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MOTAC) and MBSB Research:

• In 2024, Malaysia received 25 million international visitor arrivals, up 24.2% year on year, generating tourism revenue of RM 102.2 billion (approx. RMB 173 billion), with tourism contributing 15.1%;
• The VM2026 full-year target is 47 million international visitors and RM 329 billion in tourism revenue, nearly 1.9 times the 2024 level;
• International arrivals in January–February 2026 were already up more than 30% year on year, with Chinese New Year traffic hitting a record high.

Tourists are the most natural user profile for shared power banks: a 3–7 day stay, heavy navigation/photo/ride-hailing usage, and no backup battery. The traffic corridors of the Petronas Twin Towers (KLCC), Bukit Bintang and KLIA airport are exactly the golden spots for device deployment.

1.2 Data Point 2: 33 Million People × 4 Hours of Daily Phone Use

Malaysia has a total population of about 33 million, with smartphone penetration above 95% and 5G network coverage already at 82.4%, and residents’ average daily phone use exceeds 4 hours. Battery anxiety driven by high-refresh screens and short-video apps makes emergency charging a certain, rigid need. In addition, Malaysia’s per-capita GDP ranks among the top three in Southeast Asia, so users’ willingness to pay for convenience services is clearly above the regional average.

1.3 Data Point 3: Fewer Than 4,000 Active Units vs. Potential Capacity Above 150,000

This is the single most important set of numbers for the Malaysian market: the whole country currently has fewer than 4,000 active shared power bank units, concentrated in a small number of malls and airports in Kuala Lumpur and Selangor. Benchmarked against China’s mature model of about 1 million people covered per 10,000 units, and adding the transient demand from 47 million tourists, Malaysia’s reasonable device capacity exceeds 150,000 units. In other words, current penetration is below 3%, and there is no absolute leading brand — the competitive landscape is mild. This is exactly the best window for Chinese brands with mature hardware-software systems to move in.

1.4 Data Point 4: 88% of the Population Uses E-Wallets, TNG Has 23 Million Users

According to an Oppotus survey, in 2024 88% of Malaysians had used an e-wallet (94% in Q4 alone), and digital wallets already account for 35% of all payment transactions, the highest of any payment method. Among them, the TNG eWallet has over 23 million registered users and more than 2 million merchant touchpoints, and is deeply bound to three travel scenarios — highway toll booths, LRT/MRT metro and parking — which overlap heavily with shared power bank deployment spots.

2. SIRIM and MCMC Compliance: The Two Tickets into Malaysia

Malaysia enforces mandatory certification for electronic devices containing lithium batteries and wireless communication modules. Landing a shared power bank business requires satisfying two compliance tracks at once:

2.1 SIRIM Certification: Mandatory Lithium Battery Safety Certification

SIRIM certification (administered by SIRIM QAS, Malaysia’s Standards and Industrial Research Institute) applies to lithium-ion battery products, with safety testing based on the IEC 62133 standard; it is a mandatory certification. Power banks without SIRIM certification may not be sold or put into commercial operation in Malaysia.

2.2 MCMC Type Approval: The Entry Permit for 4G/Wi-Fi Modules

Shared power bank cabinets have built-in 4G/Wi-Fi/Bluetooth communication modules. As required by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC), you also need MCMC Type Approval, usually handled by SIRIM QAS as the certifying body, with applications submitted through the e-ComM platform.

2.3 The 4-Step Application Process and Cost Estimate

1. Document preparation: product manual, circuit schematics, BOM list, battery UN38.3 test report, MSDS, and factory ISO system certificates;
2. Sample testing: send 2–3 sample units to a SIRIM-recognized laboratory for safety and EMC testing;
3. Local license holder: the applicant must be a locally registered Malaysian company (Local Representative);
4. Certificate issuance: battery safety and communication modules are certified separately; the overall cycle takes about 8–12 weeks, with costs of roughly USD 1,800–3,500 per model (including testing and agency fees, depending on the model combination).

2.4 Honeycomb Era’s Compliance Reuse Advantage

Shenzhen Honeycomb Era Technology Co., Ltd.’s full product line has passed mainstream certifications including CCC, CE, FCC and NBTC. All batteries use pure ternary lithium cells from ATL, EVE and Ganfeng, and come with UN38.3 transport test reports and MSDS, with IEC 62133 test interfaces reserved on finished units. Brand clients can file SIRIM/MCMC applications on the basis of Honeycomb Era’s existing certifications and test reports, dramatically cutting testing items and documentation time — expected savings of more than 50% on certification costs and timelines.

3. Payment Ecosystem: DuitNow Unified QR + TNG Dominance

Malaysia’s payment ecosystem is even more concentrated than Thailand’s — a major plus for shared power bank deployment.

3.1 DuitNow: One QR Code for Every Wallet

DuitNow is the real-time payment system led by Bank Negara Malaysia. Its unified QR standard DuitNow QR connects all major banking apps and e-wallets. A merchant only needs to display one QR code, and any wallet — TNG eWallet, GrabPay, MAE, Boost and more — can scan and pay. For shared power bank operators, integrating DuitNow QR means covering every e-wallet user in the country in one shot.

3.2 TNG eWallet: 23 Million Users + Full Transport-Scenario Binding

TNG eWallet (a joint venture between CIMB Group and Ant Group) is Malaysia’s largest e-wallet by users: over 23 million registered users, more than 1.6 million DuitNow QR merchant acceptance points. It is also the only wallet supporting RFID toll deduction on highways, and covers LRT/MRT metro, 2,500+ parking lots, supermarkets and online shopping. The user e-wallet cap is RM 20,000, and its 92% activity rate is the highest among all wallets.

3.3 Chinese Tourists: Alipay/WeChat Pay Work Directly

Tourism Malaysia has confirmed that both Alipay and WeChat Pay can be used in Malaysia; the TNG eWallet itself also supports cross-border scanning via the Alipay+ network. For Chinese tourists, renting a power bank by scanning a code is nearly identical to the experience back home — which means that deploying at attractions and malls with concentrated Chinese tourist traffic carries almost zero payment friction.

3.4 Recommended Payment Integration

We recommend that brands adopt a three-channel combination of DuitNow QR + TNG eWallet + Alipay+/UnionPay to cover local users, Chinese tourists and Western tourists. Honeycomb Era’s shared power bank software system was designed with a Southeast Asia multi-wallet payment architecture, supporting on-demand integration of the channels above — no secondary development required by the brand.

Honeycomb Era 0289 series 8-slot shared power bank cabinet: 22.5W super fast charging, OEM/ODM customization supported

4. Kuala Lumpur Deep Dive: Twin Towers + Bukit Bintang + Airport, Three Engines

Kuala Lumpur is the Malaysian shared power bank market with the highest order density and highest ARPU, supported by three engines:

4.1 KLCC Twin Towers and the Bukit Bintang Shopping Belt

The Petronas Twin Towers (Suria KLCC) and Bukit Bintang (including Pavilion KL and Lot 10) form Kuala Lumpur’s largest shopping-and-tourism core. Pavilion KL alone sees over 30 million visits a year. In mall settings, pricing can be set at RM 5–10/hour (approx. RMB 8–16), well above the Southeast Asian average.

4.2 KLIA/KLIA2 Airports and Public Transport

Kuala Lumpur International Airport handles over 50 million passengers a year, and Rapid KL rail (LRT/MRT/Monorail) is deeply integrated with the TNG payment system. Airport arrival halls and metro entrances are natural deployment spots, and users readily accept RM 3–5/hour pricing.

4.3 Kuala Lumpur Deployment Recommendations

We recommend an initial Kuala Lumpur deployment of 50–100 units of 8-slot + 12-slot cabinets: 8-slot cabinets in F&B, convenience stores and bars; 12-slot cabinets in malls, airports and convention centers. The cabinet UI should be trilingual — Malay + English + Chinese, with DuitNow QR signage displayed on the panel.

Honeycomb Era 0289 series 12-slot shared power bank cabinet: for high-traffic settings such as malls and airports

5. Penang and Langkawi Deep Dive: Cultural Heritage + Island Resort, Twin Drivers

5.1 George Town, Penang: World Heritage + Food Destination

George Town, Penang is a UNESCO World Heritage site with a high share of Chinese tourists and long walking itineraries. Attractions such as the mural streets, the Clan Jetties and Kek Lok Si Temple cluster in the old town — a natural fit for “grab here, return there” usage. We recommend deploying 6–8 slot cabinets, prioritizing cafes, night markets (Swatow Lane), hotel front desks and tourist information centers.

5.2 Langkawi: Island Resorts + Duty-Free Shopping

Langkawi is Malaysia’s top island resort destination, with traffic concentrated in the peak season (November–February). Mobile signal coverage on the island is good but charging facilities are scarce, and all-day outdoor activities create obvious battery anxiety. We recommend deploying 20–40 units at hotel and F&B spots along Kuah Town and Cenang Beach, with a dynamic scale-up strategy for the peak season.

5.3 Payback Math for Both Scenes

Assuming each unit in Penang/Langkawi handles 30–60 rentals per day at an average ticket of RM 4–6 per rental, a single unit generates roughly RM3,600—10,800 per month (approx. RMB 6,100–18,300). After deducting venue revenue share and O&M costs, the payback period is about 8–12 months — on par with Bangkok, but with far less competition for venues.

6. Johor Bahru and Malacca: The Hidden Goldmine of Cross-Border Traffic

6.1 Johor Bahru: 300,000 Daily Crossings on the Causeway

The Johor–Singapore Causeway between Johor Bahru and Singapore is the world’s busiest land border crossing, with about 300,000 crossings a day. Large numbers of Singaporean visitors cross to Johor Bahru for weekend shopping; Singapore mobile plans roam at high rates in Malaysia and charging demand is concentrated. We recommend deploying 30–50 units at malls such as Johor Bahru City Square and Mid Valley Southkey, with dual-currency (SGD/MYR) pricing displays.

6.2 Malacca: Weekend Trips + Night-Market Economy

Jonker Street’s weekend night market and the Dutch Square area draw dense crowds, with a high share of weekend trips from Kuala Lumpur and Singapore. Malacca is best treated as a phase-two expansion city — an initial 10–20 units is enough to test the waters.

7. Case Evidence: Honeycomb Era’s Southeast Asia Track Record and Manufacturing Strength

As a source manufacturer serving 100+ OEM/ODM brand clients with products exported to 100+ countries and regions, Shenzhen Honeycomb Era Technology Co., Ltd. has completed large-scale deployments along Bangkok’s BTS lines, Chiang Mai night markets and Phuket beaches, and serves leading overseas brands such as Chargefuze in the US (see Thailand Shared Power Bank Market Deep Dive: Tourism-Driven Growth + NBTC Compliance + Honeycomb Era’s 600+ BTS Deployment Cases).

Honeycomb Era shared power bank overseas deployment cases: covering airports, malls, restaurants, attractions and more

On the manufacturing side, the company runs a 10,000 m² smart manufacturing base with fully in-house production from mold making, injection molding and sheet metal (Fengxian, Xuzhou, Jiangsu base) to SMT placement and final assembly, with monthly capacity of 1 million power banks and 100,000 cabinets, and cumulative power bank cabinet shipments exceeding 5 million units.

For Malaysia’s hot and humid climate and multilingual needs, Honeycomb Era offers the following customizations:

• Trilingual UI: Malay + English + Chinese, covering local users and Chinese tourists;
• Climate adaptation: enclosure protection and thermal design optimized for Southeast Asian high-temperature, high-humidity conditions; ATL, EVE and Ganfeng pure ternary lithium cells with a cycle life above 500 charges;
• Pre-integrated payments: DuitNow QR + TNG + Alipay+ channel architecture reserved;
• Full brand customization: cabinet slot count, ad-screen size, exterior colors and LOGO customized on demand, helping brands build a local Malaysian brand image.

Honeycomb Era WL-008A shared power bank: 8000mAh, 22.5W fast charging, compliant with the new national standard GB 47372–2026

8. Malaysia Market-Entry Roadmap: A 4-Step Execution Checklist

8.1 Step 1: Choose the ODM Manufacturer and Certification Path (4 weeks)

Give priority to an ODM manufacturer with existing Southeast Asia certification experience and deployment cases (such as Honeycomb Era), and start the SIRIM + MCMC applications on the basis of its UN38.3/IEC 62133 test credentials. Require the manufacturer to provide: ① the original battery UN38.3 report and MSDS; ② Southeast Asian client cases; ③ a list of local license-holder partners.

8.2 Step 2: Pick the First Deployment Cities and Models (2 weeks)

For the first batch we recommend locking in Kuala Lumpur KLCC/Bukit Bintang + KLIA airport, deploying 50–100 units (mainly 8-slot cabinets, with 12-slot cabinets added at high-traffic spots), at a per-unit investment of about RM4,000—6,000 (approx. RMB 6,800–10,200).

8.3 Step 3: Payment Integration and Localization (4 weeks)

Complete DuitNow QR merchant onboarding and TNG channel integration testing; post DuitNow QR signage and trilingual usage instructions on cabinet panels; set up a 24-hour English/Malay customer-service channel. In parallel, register a Malaysian local company or choose a compliant local operating partner.

8.4 Step 4: Launch Operations and Quarterly Expansion (ongoing)

Three months after the first launch, evaluate per-unit ARPU and rental frequency. If the data is healthy, expand to Penang + Johor Bahru in month 6; by month 12 a total deployment of 300–500 units is recommended, leaning into the VM2026 tourism year to add capacity at attraction spots.

9. Recommended Reading

1. Indonesia Shared Power Bank Market Report: 280M Blue Ocean, SNI Compliance, Landing Plan

2. Thailand Shared Power Bank Market Deep Dive: Tourism-Driven Growth + NBTC Compliance + Honeycomb Era 600+ BTS Deployment Cases

3. Vietnam Shared Power Bank Market Report: Tourism Dividend, MIC/CR Compliance, Landing Plan

4. 12-Slot Power Bank Sharing Station

10. FAQ

How big is Malaysia’s shared power bank market?

The Malaysian market is still in its infancy: fewer than 4,000 active units nationwide, potential capacity above 150,000 based on population and foot traffic, and penetration below 3%. For reference, the Southeast Asian shared power bank market as a whole is expected to exceed USD 1.5 billion in 2026, with a CAGR above 40% — and Malaysia is one of its fastest-growing markets.

What certifications do Chinese brands need to enter Malaysia?

Two mandatory certifications: ① SIRIM certification (based on IEC 62133) for lithium-ion battery safety; ② MCMC Type Approval for the cabinet’s built-in 4G/Wi-Fi/Bluetooth communication modules. The overall cycle takes about 8–12 weeks and costs roughly USD 1,800–3,500 per model, and applications must be filed by a locally registered Malaysian entity. Honeycomb Era’s full product line comes with UN38.3 reports and IEC 62133 test foundations, which can shorten clients’ certification cycles substantially.

What payment methods do Malaysian users use? How many wallets need to be integrated?

Integrating the single DuitNow QR unified code covers all mainstream wallets, including TNG eWallet, GrabPay, MAE and Boost. TNG eWallet, with over 23 million registered users, is the largest single wallet. Chinese tourists can use Alipay and WeChat Pay directly. We recommend the DuitNow QR + TNG + Alipay+ three-channel combination.

How to choose among Kuala Lumpur, Penang and Johor Bahru?

Kuala Lumpur (KLCC + Bukit Bintang + KLIA) has the highest order density and ARPU — the right first stop to validate a single-city model. Penang is driven by World Heritage and food tourism, with a high share of Chinese tourists. Johor Bahru sits on the Causeway with 300,000 daily cross-border trips — a hidden goldmine of Singaporean visitors. We recommend 50–100 units in Kuala Lumpur first, expanding to Penang and Johor Bahru in month 6.

What is the payback period for investing in shared power banks in Malaysia?

Assuming 30–60 rentals per day at RM 4–6 per rental in Penang/Langkawi settings, a single unit generates roughly RM 3,600–10,800 per month; after venue revenue share and O&M costs, payback takes about 8–12 months. Prime Kuala Lumpur shopping-district and airport spots can shorten it to 7–10 months. During the VM2026 tourism year, payback at tourist spots will accelerate further.