Duty free, arriving into SG, from Malaysia

[JR8]

It used to be that you had to be abroad for a full 2-3 days before you got a duty free allowance on your way back into SG.

I'm just back from 5 days in Malaysia and was told I had zero allowance, and no one does arriving from Malaysia however long their stay.

What changed?

p.s. Tourist arrives at Changi, on a regional tour, and this leg just coming down from Malaysia. Browsing some nice wine, and a bottle of gin at Changi as a gift for his local hosts/friends.

'Ok no cannot hor. Welcome to Singapore'

[x9200]

As far as I remember it was always like this.

[Wd40]

Yeah, MY is excluded. Its always like that due to proximity. If you are flying in from Thailand or Indonesia, you can get Duty free stuff.

[JR8]

Hmmm ... how strange. Are there other countries too close, like Indonesia 5 miles away, or just MY?

[PNGMK]

I've often wondered if it's due to some old legacy rule where Singapore and Malaya were same country and hence duty free between the two never occurred as no international border had been crossed?

[therat]

I edit my previous posting as my information not correct.

Just check Singapore custom

From Malaysia, will not granted duty-free concession

http://www.customs.gov.sg/NR/rdonlyres/ ... Lowres.pdf

[JR8]

And the schtick with coming from Malaysia is?

Do the Malaysians treat the SGns the same way, on the reverse route?

[zzm9980]

And the schtick with coming from Malaysia is?

Do the Malaysians treat the SGns the same way, on the reverse route?

Probably the frequency a large portion of the population travels back and forth. Silly concern over losing revenue, like the 3/4 tank rule.

[JR8]

And the schtick with coming from Malaysia is?

Do the Malaysians treat the SGns the same way, on the reverse route?

Probably the frequency a large portion of the population travels back and forth. Silly concern over losing revenue, like the 3/4 tank rule.

There's a difference between kiasu locals going back and forth trying to max allowances, versus, legitimate tourists being told point blank, for no obvious reason, 'No, you can't buy duty free'.

[Strong Eagle]

And the schtick with coming from Malaysia is?

Do the Malaysians treat the SGns the same way, on the reverse route?

Probably the frequency a large portion of the population travels back and forth. Silly concern over losing revenue, like the 3/4 tank rule.

The 3/4 rule more than likely was asked for by the MY government since they subsidize petrol costs.

[Strong Eagle]

It used to be that you had to be abroad for a full 2-3 days before you got a duty free allowance on your way back into SG.

I'm just back from 5 days in Malaysia and was told I had zero allowance, and no one does arriving from Malaysia however long their stay.

What changed?

p.s. Tourist arrives at Changi, on a regional tour, and this leg just coming down from Malaysia. Browsing some nice wine, and a bottle of gin at Changi as a gift for his local hosts/friends.

'Ok no cannot hor. Welcome to Singapore'

Restriction applies to alcohol only. One way around this is to choose a different flight arriving at the same time... like from Hong Kong... with multiple flights in the liquor store doesn't usually check boarding passes.

[Strong Eagle]

I've often wondered if it's due to some old legacy rule where Singapore and Malaya were same country and hence duty free between the two never occurred as no international border had been crossed?

Flying SG to KL I never had an issue stopping at duty free on the way out of immigration check at KLIA.

[x9200]

One way around this is to choose a different flight arriving at the same time... like from Hong Kong... with multiple flights in the liquor store doesn't usually check boarding passes.

With your passport data recorded they have you served on the plate. Probably nobody bothers but still.