Promoting country as Asia’s premier shopping hub

IMPORT duty on approximately 300 items will be abolished to promote Malaysia as Asia’s shopping haven. The goods are apparel, handbags, shoes, shampoo, suits, children’s apparel, wallets, hair colourants, golf balls, imitation jewellery, talcum powder, curtains, table cloth, blankets, bed sheets, shirts, undergarments, lingerie, nightwear, perfumes and mosquito netting. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said tourism, which generated RM53bil in revenue last year, had the potential to provide more business and employment opportunities as well as increase the nation’s income. He added that to further energise the industry, more effort would be put in to attract foreign tourists by offering innovative tour packages and products.

“Malaysia was ranked ninth in the world in terms of tourist arrivals in last year’s United Nations World Tourism Organisation Report.” To achieve this, Najib said the Government would set aside RM50mil to build shaded walkways in the KLCC-Bukit Bintang vicinity and RM85mil to facilitate construction of hotels and resorts in remote areas, and restructure the Civil Aviation Department into the Civil Aviation Authority.

Najib said Nexus Karambunai, a renowned resort in Sabah, had committed to developing an integrated RM3bil eco-nature resort, the first in the world, by leveraging on its natural beauty and uniqueness.“The project will commence next year,” he said, adding that the Government would give RM100mil.

Najib said sales tax on all types of mobile phones would also be exempted. He said the investment allowance period for last mile broadband service providers would be extended as well as the exemption of import duty and sales tax on broadband equipment. Fomca secretary-general Muhammad Sha’ani Abdullah said he hoped the abolition of import duty on branded goods could be passed on to consumers. However, he said any reduction in the actual price of branded goods would depend on retailers. “While the decision may attract tourists, it will not help the man in the street. Branded products mainly cater to the high-income group.”

-thestar online.