Bring duty-free cigarettes back to Langkawi, PN MP urges govt

 

Cigarette and tobacco products have been listed as taxable goods on all duty-free islands, including Langkawi, since Jan 1, 2021. (Reuters pic)

KUALA LUMPUR: Suhaimi Abdullah (PN-Langkawi) has urged the government to allow duty-free cigarettes to be sold in Langkawi once again.

He said that currently, one of the few remaining attractions on the island was duty-free liquor.

“Who wants to come to Langkawi to drink liquor? Perhaps two or three foreign tourists, but local tourists do not benefit (from the duty-free liquor) at all,” he said during the debate on the 2023 budget in the Dewan Rakyat today.

“So I urge the government to review the decision (to take cigarettes off Langkawi’s duty-free list) so that many will visit Langkawi, not for the sole purpose (of buying duty-free cigarettes) but to enjoy its attractions as well.”

He said that previously, even those who did not smoke would buy duty-free cigarettes on the island.

Cigarette and tobacco products have been listed as taxable goods on all duty-free islands, including Labuan, Langkawi, Tioman and Pangkor, since Jan 1, 2021. - FMT