LANGKAWI: THE good thing about buying artworks in Malaysia  is they are tax- and hassle-free.

The government maintains an open and liberal policy on artworks that are bought by foreigners and tourists, said Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen.

"Our artworks are tax-free and buyers do not have to check whether they can take them back to their countries.

"Therefore, Malaysia is a good destination for art tourism," she said after opening the Langkawi edition of the 1Malaysia Contemporary Art Festival (1MCAT) at Four Points Gallery in Sheraton Langkawi Beach Resort yesterday.

Dr Ng said buying art in some Asian countries, such as Myanmar, China and Vietnam, was not easy because some works would not clear Customs as they were considered as national heritage.

She said 1MCAT, now in its third year, had been successful in building the country's reputation as an art destination.

The price for masterpieces was also drawing higher bids every year, she added.

"At last year's Henry Butcher auction, Pago Pago by Abdul Latiff Mohidin was sold for RM572,000. This year, the most expensive painting was Datuk Ibrahim Hussein's 1984 masterpiece Red, Orange and Core, which fetched RM800,000."

Art tour packages and a special art gallery catalogue listing down 54 galleries nationwide had been created to boost the event.

Dr Ng urged artists, galleries, schools, hoteliers and those in the tourism industry to work with the government to promote local art.

"We also hope those involved in 1MCAT will follow up with the ministry and provide us the art sale figures so we can have a clear indication of how much our art is worth and faring."

1MCAT, which runs until September, is organised by the ministry to establish the country as a destination for art tourism and to provide local artists a platform to showcase their work.

Apart from Kedah, Penang, Malacca, Pahang, Johor, Sabah and Sarawak are also organising the festival at the state level.