This document summarizes prior research on effective tax rates (ETRs) paid by firms and examines ETRs for Malaysian firms from 1990-1999. It finds that manufacturing firms and hotels in Malaysia paid significantly lower ETRs, consistent with Malaysia's industrial policy of promoting those sectors. Additionally, larger Malaysian firms paid lower ETRs, unlike findings for US firms. The results provide insights into how industrial policy and firm characteristics influence taxation in Malaysia compared to Western countries like the US.