On 30 August 2017, Malaysia published the Income Tax (Exemption) (No.8) Order 2017 in the Official Gazette. The order introduced a tax exemption on qualifying capital expenditure in relation to automation equipment used directly in a qualifying project undertaken by a qualifying company resident in Malaysia.

The Order provides income tax exemption for a qualifying company in respect of statutory income derived from a qualifying project which is equivalent to one  hundred  per  cent of  the  amount  of  allowance  for  which  the  qualifying  company  is entitled  under  rules  5  and  6  of  the  Income  Tax.

The exemption applies for the years of assessment 2015 to 2017 for qualifying companies engaged in qualifying projects relating to rubber, plastic, wood, furniture, and textile. For all other qualifying companies engaged in qualifying projects, the exemption applies for the years of assessment 2015 to 2020.