ST : Uninhabited isles in Malaysia for sale

Sep 26, 2010

Uninhabited isles in Malaysia for sale

Foreigners invited to form joint ventures with locals or build homes there to spur economy

Osaka - Malaysia welcomes foreigners who wish to buy or develop any of its uninhabited islands as this could help stimulate the country's economy and bring in more tourist dollars.

Foreigners can develop these islands as joint ventures with locals or even build their homes there and make Malaysia their second home, said Tourism Minister Ng Yen Yen. She stressed, however, that state governments would have the final say on such transactions as land is a state matter.

'We are, however, open to this idea. It will help open up our economy and provide more opportunities to Malaysians as well,' she said, adding that there were 1,007 islands around the country with the majority uninhabited.

Dr Ng, on a promotion tour of Japan, was speaking to a group of Japanese investors, travel agents and operators, and airline representatives in Osaka. She said Malaysia enjoyed political stability, was not exposed to natural disasters and was a reasonably cheap place to live in.

The Star/Asia News Network