LABUAN: It was not business as usual for many during the 5-day Borneo Floral Festival which ended on June 30th at the Labuan International Sea Sports Complex.
It was better than usual as it was swarmed by people on a scale never seen before since the RM28 million facility was opened in 2001. Labuan Chinese Chamber of Commerce Chairman Datuk Wong Kii Yii said there is no denying that for the five days it was sunshine over the gloomy local economy.
“While this is highly appreciated , what the island needs is something more than a temporary spell of boom or else this is akin to good weather followed by long drought,” he said.
Wong reiterated that what would have a more lasting effect on the economy would be to restore the full duty free status of the island on cigarettes and abolish the restricted shopping of duty-free beer to only four cans for visitors.
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