Najib: Health tourism in Malaysia generated RM600m in revenue last year

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia recorded more than 20% growth in health tourism over the past three years and it generated almost RM600mil in revenue alone last year, says Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

The Prime Minister said on Tuesday the importance of health tourism was identified in the National Key Economic Areas, and the Malaysia Healthcare Travel Council was established to promote it.

He said that collaboration in the private sector was complemented by collaboration in the public sector which saw organisations such as MHTC, Pemandu and TalentCorp are working together to address the needs of Malaysia's fast growing healthcare sector

“These efforts are paying off. Over the past three years Malaysia has seen more than 20% growth in health tourism - generating almost RM600 million in revenue last year alone,” he said at the official opening of Park City Medical Centre here and the launch of the new logo of Ramsay Sime Darby Health Care.

Extra RM600mil funds for bumis

KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak has announced additional allocations totalling RM600mil for bumiputra entrepreneurs to help strengthen and propel them to greater heights.

Out of this sum, RM400mil would be set aside under the Economic Planning Unit for the bumiputra entrepreneur funding programme, said Najib.

“The Government agreed to set aside the extra RM400mil to strengthen and develop bumiputra entrepreneurs,” he said at the inaugural Bumiputra Entrepeneurs gathering here yesterday.

The RM600mil includes RM100mil each for Perbadanan Usahawan Nasional Bhd to help entrepreneurs get good locations at major retail areas, and for Mara to expand bumiputra corporate equity.

Najib also announced that the limit for small entrepreneurship loans under Tekun Nasional and Mara would be increased from RM50,000 to RM100,000 and that Mara business loans be doubled from RM500,000 to RM1mil.