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Sunday, November 10, 2002
Govt promoting cosmetic surgery in M’sia
KUALA LUMPUR: The Government is promoting
Malaysia as the cosmetic surgery centre of the world.
Culture, Arts and Tourism Deputy Minister Datuk Dr Ng Yen Yen
said the country had the expertise and facilities to “blossom”
in the medical-tourism sector.
“Besides that,
the cost of surgery here is also very competitive. Why go to
LA or France and pay tons of money (for cosmetic surgery) when
you can do it here?” she said here yesterday.
The Star reported on Thursday that Penang is offering special
holiday packages to tourists who want to enhance their body
through surgery. The innovative programme managed to attract
international attention including a write-up in the New York
Post.
According to Dr Ng, the Government had set up a Medical Tourism
Committee, headed by the Health Ministry, to promote the country
as more than just an attractive holiday destination.
The country, she added, received 70,000 medical tourists last
year, mainly from Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam.
She also urged travel agencies promoting medical tourism to
ensure that their products were recognised by the Government.
Medical regulatory bodies like the Malaysian Medical Association
should help the Government monitor these agencies, she added.
Dr Ng, who is Wanita MCA chief, said she was not opposed to
the idea of surgery to enhance beauty.
“It is
up to the individual. If someone comes here with a size 32 and
goes back with a size 36 and feels happier, then go ahead,”
she said.
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