Kuching: The launching of the national - level Malaysia Mega Sale in Miri Saturday is expected to earmark the oil town as a premier shopping destination in Sarawak.

Sarawak Tourism Board media executive Benedict Jimbau said Friday that the event, included in this year's tourism calendar, would capitalise on the growing neighbouring market of Brunei.

"It is definitely a vote of confidence that Malaysia Tourism Promotion Board (Tourism Malaysia) has given Miri in luring the Bruneians by staging the national launch there," he told Bernama here.

He said that attracted by the favourable exchange rate and cheaper goods and services, a marked increase in the number of arrivals from the sultanate was normally recorded during the weekends and approaching festivities.

Miri, which is aiming for a resort city status by 2005, is expected to be lively throughout the month with efforts being made by the local authorities to beautify and light up the major shopping areas in the town, he said.

To be launched at the town's Boulevard Shopping Complex by Chief Minister Tan Sri bdul Taib Mahmud, the month - long sale will see various popular goods ranging from household, fashion, property and computers being offered to consumers at favourable discounted prices.

Jimbau said that about 250 retail outlets here, in Sibu, Miri and other towns in Sarawak had applied for a special permit for the sale so far.

Apart from shopping complexes, major hotels were also offering discounted prices on their rooms, food and beverages.

Meanwhile, a spokesman of the Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry said its region office here had not received any complaints from members of the public of abuses and contravention to the sales regulation since the mega sale was introduced in Sarawak in 1997.

He said that the sale would be closely monitored by their officers and the Ministry would not hesitate to take action againts those found violating the regulation.

"Our offices in the major towns will be on full alert and we will continue to monitor and conduct random inspection as and when necessary," he said.