
13MP: New Special Tourism Investment Zones in four states
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said this will involve collaboration between the federal government, state governments, the private sector, and cooperatives.
"These zones will serve as catalysts for the creation of new tourism products, including those based on artistic, cultural, and heritage assets as well as natural attractions."
He cited the Sungai Batu Civilisation site in Kedah, Lenggong Valley, and Niah Caves, all recognised by Unesco, as examples of natural attractions.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


The Star
2 hours ago
- The Star
Economic transformation needs fair, inclusive reforms
Upskilling: Job-specific training programmes should be developed to help local job-seekers find industry placements. — Filepic/The Star THE MCA Economic and SMEs Affairs Committee welcomes the tabling of the 13th Malaysia Plan (2026-2030) by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim on Thursday, in particular, the emphasis on fairness, sustainability, and inclusivity. These are the three core principles for Malaysia's future development and are exactly the type of reform our current economy and society urgently need. Only by moving towards a development path that is genuinely fair and professionally driven can our economy and society reach their full potential.


New Straits Times
9 hours ago
- New Straits Times
Cross-border trade to thrive after high-level consultation
IT took bilateral summitry at the highest level to revive cross-border free-trade arrangement at the Tebedu-Entikong border crossing between Sarawak and West Kalimantan in Indonesia. This deal was one of the highlights of the 13th Malaysia-Indonesia Annual Consultation meeting between Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto in Jakarta this week. Also present were Sarawak Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Openg and Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Mohd Noor. Sarawak had long sought to revive the free flow of goods since Indonesia unilaterally stopped it in 2016. Sarawak set up an inland port early in 2010 because it seemed to make good economic sense to transport goods from Kuching Port to West Kalimantan via the Tebedu inland port rather than all the way from Java. At its height in 2013, some RM700 million in goods were reported to be traded this way. Numerous Sarawak missions to Indonesia seeking to reinstate the free-trade arrangement since then had been fruitless. It, of course, hardly needs stressing that free trade benefits all who engage in it. It also makes geographic sense for transshipment of goods to and from West Kalimantan via Tebedu and Kuching. Naturally, it also needs to be acknowledged that West Kalimantan has similar aspirations to become a trade transshipment hub with the commissioning of a new deep sea port near Pontianak, the provincial capital. The new port will also be well-served by land adjoining it, which has been earmarked for the development of industries. It so happened that a trade delegation from Sarawak led by Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan was in West Kalimantan and East Kalimantan, also this week. The main mission was, of course, to deepen the economic relationship not just with West Kalimantan bordering Sarawak but in East Kalimantan where the new Indonesian capital of Nusantara is being developed. Sarawak has already identified several joint-ventures in developing dams in Kalimantan and even major real estate developer Ibraco Bhd was scouting about for possible projects in Balikpapan, the major city adjoining Nusantara. Awang Tengah was reportedly also reviewing localities for setting up a Sarawak trade and tourism office in Pontianak. This comes on the heels of the revival of air connectivity between Kuching and Pontianak next month. There has been much clamour both in Sarawak and West Kalimantan for flights between the two cities to resume after they were stopped during the Covid-19 pandemic. People-to-people exchanges have come back strongly since as witnessed by the daily long queues at the Tebedu-Entikong main border crossing as well as other secondary border posts. All these positive developments must be sustained through regular high-level official exchanges, especially in showing to the Indonesian side that free trade and the free flow of people across our common border is not a zero-sum proposition benefiting only one side. What happened in Jakarta this week also shows that Sarawak and Sabah can and do benefit substantially from close state-federal ties and working in tandem to take the fullest advantage from similarly close Malaysia-Indonesia bilateral ties.


The Star
13 hours ago
- The Star
Backbenchers Club praises Anwar for US tariff reductions benefiting SMEs
PETALING JAYA: The Backbenchers Club (BBC) commended Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim on the recent tariff reduction by the United States, as it also enables small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to achieve long-term competitiveness in high-growth sectors. The tariff was reduced from 25% to 19%. 'These efforts are essential not only to absorb the impact of global trade fluctuations but to position Malaysian companies, especially SMEs, for long-term competitiveness in high-growth sectors,' said BBC in a statement on Friday (Aug 1). Although this is a positive step, the BBC highlighted the need to persist with economic reform, expand into new markets, and develop a resilient economy. 'I commend the Prime Minister for defending that space while keeping the door open to meaningful trade engagement with one of our largest partners,' said the statement According to a report in The Star, the new tariff structure would take effect in seven days and apply to goods entering the US for consumption, with limited exceptions for shipments already in transit.