Kedah: Kedah Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor has expressed appreciation to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim for his willingness to consider a proposal to restore Langkawi's duty-free status as a measure to revitalise the island's economy. Muhammad Sanusi also commended the Prime Minister's prompt response following the royal address by the Sultan of Kedah, Al Aminul Karim Sultan Sallehuddin Sultan Badlishah, during the opening ceremony of the Kedah State Legislative Assembly sitting on April 13.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Anwar expressed his appreciation to Sultan Sallehuddin for the proposal, noting that it deserved attention given the recent slowdown in Langkawi's tourism sector. Elaborating further, Muhammad Sanusi said the decline in Langkawi's appeal was due to the lack of unique duty-free offerings, which had previously been a key attraction for tourists to the island.

However, he said the state government was still targeting an increase in tourist arrivals to Langkawi from two million in 2025 to four million this year. 'I have said that if taxes are imposed, people will not come to Langkawi, resulting in losses in other sectors. Langkawi generates economic returns of between RM4 billion and RM7 billion annually to the Federal Government from the tourism sector alone,' he said.

He therefore proposed that Langkawi's duty-free island status be strengthened, including by expanding duty-free items such as luxury cars, while urging the government not to reduce existing items, as it could affect tourist numbers. In addition, Muhammad Sanusi also highlighted the need for fuel subsidies for ferry services to Langkawi, which he said were more expensive compared with other island destinations such as Pangkor and Tioman.

In another development, Muhammad Sanusi said he welcomed any individual, including former health minister Khairy Jamaluddin, to contest as a people's representative in Kedah. 'Anyone can come to Kedah to contest. We will see what the people of Kedah have to say. This is a democratic country, and I welcome anyone who wishes to contest in Kedah to try their luck,' he said.

Previously, Kedah Umno Youth information chief Mohd Safwan Jaafar was reported to have said that the state Barisan Nasional (BN) needed a figure like Khairy to drive a political resurgence. He said the former health minister's ideology and thinking could stimulate a shift in the mindset of Kedah's people.