Malaysia to deploy Smart team to Nepal; industry seeks duty law reform

Malaysia plans to extend its Smart programme to Nepal, marking an expansion of the initiative beyond current operations. The deployment signals strengthened bilateral engagement and Malaysia's commitment to sharing development expertise across South Asia.

Simultaneously, industry stakeholders are intensifying calls for the government to scrap the Entertainments Duty Act, describing the colonial-era legislation as outdated and inhibitive to sector growth. The Act, inherited from pre-independence regulatory structures, remains a contentious issue within Malaysia's entertainment and creative industries.

Proponents of repealing the law argue it impedes business development and competitiveness in the modern entertainment landscape. They contend that abolishing the duty would create a more favourable operating environment for local producers and performers.

The dual developments underscore Malaysia's broader focus on regional partnerships and domestic regulatory modernisation. Officials have not yet indicated a timeline for either the Nepal deployment or legislative action on the entertainment duty matter.