The Reference Library.
Ad cost benchmarks, KKM/MDC/PDPA compliance references, Malaysian business regulation guides and industry cost sheets — the same reference material we use running client work, published openly with sources.
The shakalakaa reference library publishes Malaysian ad cost benchmarks, KKM, MDC and PDPA compliance references, business regulation guides and industry cost sheets, with sources. Benchmarks come from managed-account data with a stated 20-observation publishing threshold, and the same material is used running work for Malaysian clinic groups, developers and brands.
For the interactive versions of these references, see the free tools hub.
Ad cost benchmarks & pricing
MY, SG & AU Ad Benchmarks
Quarterly CPL, CPC and cost-per-consultation ranges by industry — Malaysia and Singapore from managed accounts, Australia curated from published sources.
Read the reference
Ad Benchmarks Methodology
How the Digital Ad Cost Index and Live Host Rate Index are built — sample sources, deduplication, the 20-observation publishing threshold.
Read the reference
Live Host Rate Index (MY)
Real monthly and hourly bands from public job listings — what a TikTok Shop or Shopee Live host actually costs, dated.
Read the reference
Compliance & advertising rules
Clinic Advertising Compliance Hub
KKM, MDC, PHFSA, MOH and platform-specific rules for clinic advertising in Malaysia and Singapore, indexed by regulator and platform.
Read the reference
Cosmetic Clinic Ad Compliance (MY)
Governing rules — KKM Aesthetic framework and MMC ethics — the nine most common violations, and how to self-check.
Read the reference
Healthcare Ad Guidelines (MY)
Plain-English summary of PHFSA 1998 and the Medicine Advertisements Board rules for healthcare ads in Malaysia.
Read the reference
Business guides Malaysia
Official-source guides for Malaysian business owners, finance and HR teams: tax, e-invoicing, data protection, wages, grants and licence checks. Each page links its government source and shows when it was last checked.
E-Invoice Malaysia (MyInvois)
LHDN MyInvois phases and dates, the RM3 million exemption from 1 September 2026, relaxation periods and portal vs API.
Read the reference
PDPA Malaysia
What businesses must do under PDPA: the seven principles, the 2025 amendment dates, DPO and 72-hour breach rules, and WhatsApp/SMS consent.
Read the reference
SST on Digital Marketing (MY)
Is digital marketing subject to SST? Group I First Schedule: 8% rate, RM500,000 threshold, B2B exemption conditions.
Read the reference
Industry cost guides & directories
Aesthetic Clinics Malaysia (Overview)
Overview of Malaysia's aesthetic clinic landscape — LPFK licensing, common treatments and how to evaluate a clinic.
Read the reference
Aesthetic Clinics Singapore (Overview)
Overview of Singapore's aesthetic clinic landscape — MOH-approved procedures and the LOA framework.
Read the reference
Dental Malaysia (Overview)
Overview of dental care in Malaysia — public vs private, MDC-regulated advertising and how to evaluate a clinic.
Read the reference
Agency selection guides
All Malaysia agency rankings
Every shakalakaa ranking of agencies in Malaysia, by channel, industry, capability and city.
Read the rankings
How to Choose a Marketing Agency (MY)
What to check before hiring a Malaysian marketing agency — fee structure, contract terms, evidence of results.
Read the reference
Agency vs In-House Team (MY)
Jobstreet salary ranges, the costs a salary leaves out, and when an agency, a hire or a hybrid makes sense.
Read the reference
AI Search / GEO & XHS
GEO & AI Search Glossary
Plain-English definitions of GEO, AEO, LLM SEO, ChatGPT SEO, AI Search Optimization, llms.txt, AI crawlers — DefinedTerm entries.
Read the reference
AI Overview Watch Malaysia
Dated, methodology-first record of AI Overview presence in Malaysian commercial search — honest about what we can't observe yet.
Read the reference
AI Overview Watch Singapore
Dated, methodology-first record of AI Overview presence in Singapore commercial search.
Read the reference
Platform how-to guides
Meta Ads Guide Malaysia
How to run Meta (Facebook and Instagram) ads: business portfolio, objectives, budgets, Pixel, Conversions API and ad review.
Read the guide
TikTok Shop Malaysia Guide
Who can register, the documents needed, and commission and transaction fees.
Read the guide
TikTok Shop Affiliate Malaysia
Creator rules, ID checks, Link-Share vs Affiliate, and how sellers set commission.
Read the guide
Tools
Engagement Rate Calculator
Engagement rate for Instagram, TikTok and XHS, with a benchmark for your follower tier.
Use the tool
WhatsApp Link Generator
A wa.me link and QR code for your +60 number and message, built in your browser.
Use the tool
SST Calculator (Digital Ads)
SST on service spend at the 8% rate, with a preset for Meta, Google and TikTok ads.
Use the tool
How this library is maintained
Everything published here has a named primary source and a verification date.
Benchmarks come from managed-account data with a stated 20-observation publishing threshold — see the methodology page for exactly how bands are formed and what verify_gate means.
shakalakaa resources index, in depth
The supporting detail behind each section of this page, by topic. 10 topics
This library
Every entry below is a permanent, dated reference — benchmark ranges from managed accounts (Malaysia and Singapore) or curated from published sources (Australia), advertising-compliance guides tied to specific statutes and regulator guidance (KKM, MDC, MOH, PDPA, AHPRA/TGA),
and Malaysia-specific business regulation like e-invoice deadlines, SST on digital marketing, PDPA 2024 amendments, minimum wage and public holidays.
- Developer finance terms are in our guide to gross development value; the two rating schemes are explained under green building certification in Malaysia.
- Growth teams can start with choosing a CRM system in Malaysia or with how to run an affiliate program in Malaysia from the brand side.
- Paid media starts with what PPC means; every other acronym is defined in the marketing metrics glossary.
How this library is maintained
Compliance references cite the specific statute or regulator clause, not our inference.
Regulation changes are tracked and dated on the Regulation Tracker.
If a reference here surfaces a gap you'd rather have handled for you, our services and industry programmes pick up from where these guides stop.