By The Billions (BTB) is set to take Malaysia’s overlanding scene into a new chapter with Malayan Expedition (MX) 2026, which has officially reached full capacity across all 4×4 categories. The annual expedition was announced at an official press conference at PARC, Subang Jaya, where BTB also formalised a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Enggang Management Services (EMS) and the Al-Sultan Abdullah Royal Tiger Reserve (ASARTR). The partnership introduces the Habitat Enrichment Project, placing environmental conservation and community development at the centre of this year’s expedition.
Held under the overarching ethos of “From Exploration to Impact,” MX2026 aims to demonstrate how outdoor adventure and responsible mobility can contribute positively to Malaysia’s natural environment and rural communities. The initiative also supports the country’s wider eco-tourism ambitions ahead of Visit Malaysia 2026.
“High demand for outdoor adventure must be met with equal responsibility,” said Nedree Mohd Nazlan, Founder of By The Billions. “Reaching full capacity for MX2026 proves the immense growth and passion of our overland community. However, as our footprint grows, so does our duty to protect the wild spaces we traverse.”
A major component of MX2026 is the ASARTR Habitat Enrichment Project, which will run from September 2026 to September 2027. As part of the initiative, BTB will procure and plant at least 500 fig tree saplings to improve biodiversity and strengthen the local prey base within the Malayan tiger habitat. The saplings will be purchased directly from the ASARTR Central Nursery in Kampung Mat Daling, Pahang, helping channel economic benefits to local communities and village nurseries.
The project will also include 12 months of monitoring and maintenance by BTB field teams. Saplings that do not survive will be replaced, while environmental records gathered during the programme will eventually be handed over to ASARTR. Importantly, the expedition will not create new trails. The convoy will use permitted, pre-existing logging roads under the oversight of the Jerantut District Forestry Department, helping to minimise disturbance and avoid further forest fragmentation.
The initiative brings together conservation and automotive industry stakeholders, with EMS represented by Chief Executive Officer Haji Halmi Hassan and Project Finance Manager Christabel Koh. Main presenting sponsor GWM was represented by Managing Director of Commercial Operations Stan Li Hao and Chief Operating Officer En. Roslan Abdullah, while official lubricant partner UMW Grantt Lubricants was represented by Head of Sales & Marketing Division Yee Chun Lung.
Before the expedition heads into Pahang, the MX2026 programme will begin with Adventure Festival 2026 at PARC, Subang Jaya, on September 12. Formerly known as 4Wheel Fest, the free-entry festival will serve as an urban meeting point for Malaysia’s 4×4, camping and outdoor communities. Visitors can expect displays of modified overland vehicles, expedition builds, rooftop tents and specialist equipment, alongside an interactive marketplace featuring automotive, outdoor and lifestyle brands.
The festival will also bring back the Outdoor Cooking Challenge, combining outdoor culinary skills with flavours inspired by the Pahang region. Technical scrutineering, safety briefings and preparations for the expedition will take place before the public flag-off on September 13.
Following the official departure from PARC, the 120-vehicle convoy will embark on a 630km journey that transitions from urban roads to unpaved logging tracks deep within Pahang. The six-day, five-night expedition will conclude at Cherating on September 18.
Safety and vehicle preparedness will be key priorities, with all participating 4WDs required to undergo mandatory technical inspections. GWM and Grantt Lubricants will lead a group of industry partners supporting the expedition, alongside BFGoodrich, Alpaka Gear, Victron Energy, Pedders Malaysia, Red Springs Overland, Tough Dog, Suspension Malaysia and ANBOT.
A combination of sweep vehicles, medical support and mobile recovery teams will accompany the convoy throughout the journey. Beyond the driving experience, MX2026 will also focus on community engagement. Participants will support Orang Asli settlements along the Tembeling River basin while helping activate local homestays and river transport operators in Kampung Kuala Sat.
BTB is already looking beyond this year’s expedition, with the MX Overland Series 2027 unveiled during the event announcement. Designed around a five-day, four-night format, the series will focus on self-reliant adventure travel where the journey is as important as the destination. The programme is intended to showcase Malaysia’s rural landscapes, cultural heritage and local communities through a more immersive approach to overlanding.
The 2027 series will expand beyond Peninsular Malaysia with two headline routes: Langkawi Overland and Borneo Overland. Through these routes, BTB aims to build a broader ecosystem connecting experiential mobility, rural economic activity, community engagement and cross-border outdoor exploration.
With MX2026 already sold out, the event signals the growing appetite for overlanding in Malaysia. More importantly, BTB is positioning the expedition as more than a large-scale off-road adventure — it is an attempt to show that increased access to the outdoors can go hand in hand with conservation, community support and responsible exploration.
MX2026 Key Dates
- September 12, 2026: Adventure Festival 2026 at PARC, Subang Jaya
- September 13, 2026: Official expedition flag-off
- September 13–18, 2026: Malayan Expedition 2026, covering approximately 630km from the Klang Valley through Pahang to Cherating
- September 18, 2026: Cherating finale and closing ceremony
