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| Malaysia |
| Customs,
Transport and Communication |
Customs Entry
In 1987, the Malaysian government took steps to streamline customs
entry procedures by relying more heavily on documentation rather
than customs inspections for clearance purposes. The new procedure
is called the "immediate release system".
In most cases, goods may be landed from a vessel on the days
and times prescribed, except when otherwise permitted by customs
authorities. Ice and fresh fish are exempted from this requirement.
Landing permits must be obtained from customs officials and
goods must be landed at a quay, wharf, or other designated place.
Goods loaded, landed, transhipped, or removed contrary to this
procedure are subject to seizure. If goods are not accounted
for within a prescribed period, fines are levied.
Ports
The chief federal ports in Malaysia are Kelang (the principal
port), Penang, Johore, Kuantan and
Bintulu. There are state ports (administered by the respective
state) in Sabah and Sarawak. There are
five major international airports in Malaysia - at Kuala Lumpur
(Subang), Kota Kinabalu, Penang,
Johore Bahru and Kuching. Subang International Airport, which
is 12 miles outside Kuala Lumpur, opened in
1965 and has a passenger capacity of 12 million per year and
cargo capacity of 325,871 tons.
A new international airport in Sepangi Selangor is under construction,
operations beginning in 1998, with a capacity of 25-30 million
passengers per year initially and rising to 60 million per year
by 2020.
Warehousing
Warehouse facilities are located in Penang and Port Klang. At
Penang, most goods are
allowed free storage for 72 hrs. Rent is charged if goods remain
in storage for more than 72 hours
(Sundays excluded) after completion of the vessel's discharge.
Charges vary with the type of goods
and facilities used. At other ports, two days of free storage
is generally allowed if the cargo is
carried away by rail and one day of free storage is allowed
if the cargo is carried by other means.
Tobacco products, alcoholic beverages, and petroleum products
must remain under bond until they
are released either for consumption or for re-export. The government
has no bonded storage
facilities for petroleum, the oil companies are permitted to
maintain their own storage facilities under
the supervision of customs officers. The export of goods, regardless
of origin, from a bonded
warehouse is permitted only under an approved license.
Exporters of a variety of products can overcome the time-distance
delivery problem by
developing facilities on a single commercial centre for warehousing
and regional marketing and
distribution. Malaysia has an abundance of the necessary facilities.
There is considerable public
warehouse space in the port areas. Also, many of the trading
firms maintain warehouses from which
port areas are conveniently reached. New warehouses are being
added steadily, particularly in those port areas.
A basic element in regional marketing operation is the storage
of selected products in warehouses for
future delivery to customers in markets located a reasonable
distance from the distribution point. |
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