KUALA LUMPUR (April 13): The sultan of Kedah has asked the federal government to fully restore Langkawi’s duty-free status to jump start the tourism sector and the island’s economy.

Some of the changes, including taxation on vehicles and tobacco-based products, have eroded the allure of Langkawi as the country’s main tourism destination, Sultan Sallehuddin Sultan Badlishah was cited as saying by several publications including Sinar Harian and Utusan Malaysia.

“I call on the federal government to restore Langkawi Island's status as a tax-free island with the same privileges as before,” he was quoted as saying on Monday.

The decree was made during the opening of the Kedah State Legislative Assembly’s first meeting of the fourth term at Wisma Darul Aman on Monday.

Under Budget 2026, the federal government began imposing duties on cigarettes and other tobacco products brought into Langkawi and limited the tax exemption on vehicles purchased in the island, a haven for luxury cars and supercars, to those valued under RM300,000.