LABUAN – The Labuan Chinese Chamber of Commerce has urged Putrajaya to reinstate the island’s full duty-free status to boost its appeal to visitors.
Its president, Datuk Wong Kii Yii, said that despite previous efforts, including letters to relevant authorities, the federal government has yet to heed their plea.
Wong emphasised that Labuan’s current duty-free status fails to impress visitors, as prices for goods remain high, making it less attractive for tourists.
“Labuan’s current duty-free status has not resulted in lower prices for goods, making it less attractive to tourists,” he said at a New Year’s dinner with community leaders at the Fisherman Harbour Restaurant here tonight.
Wong specifically highlighted the need for duty-free cigarette sales, emphasising its potential to enhance the island’s allure.
“The chamber calls upon the Labuan MP Datuk Suhaili Abd Rahman and Labuan Umno chief Datuk Rafi Ali Hassan to champion this cause to bring the issue to the attention of the federal government,” he said.
Wong underscored Labuan’s economic dependency on its duty-free status and said he believed restoring the full duty-free status was crucial for attracting visitors to the island.
In addition to this, Wong emphasised the necessity of increasing flights to Labuan to stimulate the tourism sector.
With limited flights from Malaysia Airlines and AirAsia, he questioned Labuan’s ability to attract visitors, particularly from China.
“The chamber hopes for swift government intervention to address these concerns and bolster Labuan’s economic prospects,” he said. – January 1, 2024