DUTY-FREE STATUS OF FOREST CITY TAKES EFFECT ON NOV 15

ISKANDAR PUTERI,  Nov 10 (Bernama) -- The duty-free status of Pulau Satu Forest City will take effect this Nov15, with the Royal Malaysian Customs Complex there set to be fully operational on the same day, said Menteri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi.

He said the implementation of the duty-free status will be carried out in two phases, with the second phase to be implemented during the first quarters of next year.

The first phase of the implementation only focuses on residents (homeowners), long-term renters and hotel guests staying at least 48 hours on Pulau Satu, while the second phase, will also include office employees, business visitors, event attendees, hotel guests (short-term tourists), yacht owners/marina visitors, healthcare tourists, investors and property buyers

To facilitate the implementation of the second phase, the existing system will be improved with the use of quick response (QR) codes, a visitor tracking system, 48-hour tracking and an extension of duty-free privileges for all goods, he added.

He told this to reporters after opening the complex here today. Also present were Customs Director-General Datuk Anis Rizana Mohd Zainudin and Executive Director of Country Garden Pacificview Sdn Bhd executive-director Datuk Md Othman Yusof.

According to  Anis Rizana, the new customs complex will have baggage scanning machines equipped with artificial intelligence (AI).

The use of the technology will strengthen control of entry and exit of duty-free goods sold on the duty-free island, she said.

 Meanwhile, Md Othman said the Forest City duty-free island is expected to attract more domestic and foreign tourists, hence strengthening the local tourism industry. 

"This duty-free concept is expected to drive business and economic development as well as strengthen the entire industry chain, further, strengthen the image of the Malaysian tourism industry," he said.

Gazetted as a duty-free island in September 2024, Forest City is Malaysia's fifth duty-free island and the first to be directly accessible by land vehicles.

-- BERNAMA