BAT to consider reopening another Malaysian factory in longer term

KUALA LUMPUR: British American Tobacco (M) Bhd will consider reopening its factory again in Malaysia depending on the market situation for legal cigarettes in the country.

“Not all our products consumed here are imported but a majority are or about 98%. We have opened a factory in Johor Baru so that we can maintain our manufacturing license. We would like to retain our manufacturing license,” its managing director Erik Stoel said at a press briefing after its AGM yesterday.

“Depending on the evolution of the market then we can consider whether or not in the longer term: whether we can produce and manufacture our products in Malaysia once again. We are very committed into investing in Malaysia. While we know the market has a big illegal trade problem but we have become a big company in this market and we also treasure this,” he added.