Wise wants Malaysian travellers to get 'pandai' with their spending at Starhill pop-up

Malaysians hunting for the best travel deals might think they’re saving big, but even savvy travellers can be caught off guard by hidden fees. To make spotting these costs both fun and memorable, international money app Wise is bringing its latest "Be smart, get Wise" campaign to life with an interactive pop-up at Starhill Piazza, Kuala Lumpur, on 18–19 November 2025. This builds on the brand's “Siapa Wise?” ("Who's wise") campaign from earlier this year, which took the form of a pop-up as well, at Pavilion Bukit Jalil in April. 

The activation stars popular content creator Adam Izzy reprising his fan-favourite Uncle Tim character, who guides visitors through hands-on games and challenges designed to reveal the hidden costs that often accompany overseas trips. “Aiyo! Every year, same story. We hunt for a RM50 flight discount, then lose RM200 on bad exchange rates,” said Adam Izzy. “Doesn’t make sense lah! Time to be a bit smarter (pandai sikit) and understand where our money actually goes.”

The two-day event running from 10am to 10pm, offering free admission to all visitors. Fans of Uncle Tim can expect a variety of interactive stations and activities that blend entertainment with practical insights on travel spending. One of the highlights, “Strike out hidden fees,” lets participants bowl to knock down pins labelled with common travel money pitfalls such as “Unfair rates,” “High ATM fees,” and “Introductory prices.”

Don't miss: Wise calls out hidden transfer fees in cheeky carrot-themed activation

Another station, “How pandai are you ah?” ("How smart are you?") tests visitors with fast-paced quizzes on travel money myths, helping participants identify where travellers typically lose money. For those looking for a more playful challenge, the “Grab like a pro lah!” wind chamber invites participants to catch floating green papers, some of which include prizes. Completing all the stations earns visitors stamps on a passport, and exclusive Wise merchandise—including bucket hats, luggage tags, and travel pillows—and a chance to win travel vouchers worth up to RM800.

To mark participation, visitors can also snap a photo at the Wise pop-up truck setup with an “I’m pandai lah!” certificate, perfect for sharing on social media with the campaign hashtags #BeSmartGetWise and #WiseMY. These touchpoints not only make learning about financial smarts fun but also create a memorable, immersive experience for travellers of all ages.

The Starhill Piazza activation builds on Wise’s ongoing mission to educate Malaysians about travel costs and financial planning, but with a twist: it turns awareness into a hands-on, gamified experience. Rather than just reading about hidden fees online, participants get to physically engage with them through bowling, quizzes, and prize-grabbing activities, all while interacting with the beloved Uncle Tim persona.

Yen Ting Chiam, country manager of Wise Malaysia, emphasised the campaign’s purpose: “We’ve created a culture where ‘good deal’ means the flashiest promo code or the cheapest headline price, but Malaysians are leaving money on the table by not looking at the rate. Our message is simple: look at the rate, not just the price, so every Ringgit goes further abroad.”

The pop-up also ties into Wise’s larger educational efforts by showing visitors firsthand how everyday travel choices can affect spending. From interactive games to social media-ready photo opportunities, the Starhill Piazza activation transforms the concept of smart travel into a lively, hands-on experience, making financial literacy both fun and actionable.

Over in Singapore, Wise also took aim at hidden foreign exchange fees with a tongue-in-cheek experiential pop-up, the 'Chopped carrot head stall', launching this weekend at Funan Mall. The campaign was conceptualised by Sweatshop, which led the creative development and partnered with Flash Concepts for events execution and IN.FOM for PR support.

According to Wise, Singaporeans lost an estimated SG$580 million in 2024 to hidden fees and inflated exchange rates when sending money overseas, a figure projected to hit SG$1.03 billion by 2029, based on research by Edgar Dunn & Company. In local slang, these consumers are getting 'chopped carrot head', a Singlish phrase for being ripped off. To highlight the issue, the international money app is inviting the public to learn how to spot “sneaky markups” through a series of carrot-themed games and activities running from 7 to 9 November.

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