MALAYSIA: IMPORT DUTY ON 300 GOODS TO BE ABOLISHED

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 15 (Bernama) -- The Malaysian government plans to abolish
import duty on approximately 300 goods preferred by tourists and locals, which
at present range from 5 per cent to 30 per cent.

Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak said this was to make Malaysia a
shopping haven in Asia by providing branded goods at competitive prices.

"Such 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," he said when tabling Budget
2011 in Parliament Friday.

Najib, who is also Finance Minister, said the tourism industry, which
generated revenue of RM53 billion (US$1=RM3.08) in 2009, had the potential to
provide more business and employment opportunities as well as further increase
the nation's income.

In the 2009 United Nations World Tourism Organisation Report, Malaysia was
ranked ninth in the world in terms of tourist arrivals.

Najib said to further energise the tourism industry, efforts would be
intensified to attract more foreign tourists by offering innovative tourism
packages and products.

For this, the Government will implement the following initiatives:

* Provide infrastructure facilities with an allocation of RM85 million to
facilitate construction of hotels and resorts in remote areas with the potential
to attract tourists.

* Construct several shaded walkways in the KLCC-Bukit Bintang vicinity (in
Kuala Lumpur) with an allocation of RM50 million.

* Restructure the Department of Civil Aviation to Civil Aviation Authority

* Nexus Karambunai, a renowned resort in East Malaysia Sabah-state is
committed to develop an integrated eco-nature resort, the first in the world, by
leveraging on the natural beauty and uniqueness of Karambunai. The RM3 billion
project will commence next year. To support the tourism industry, the Government
will allocate RM100 million.

-- BERNAMA