Shipping in is not cheap unless using sea lines but the wait will be long. Shipping via airlines is a few hundred and with that there's a risk that it is not what you want later. Also since you buy from overseas, many local bike shop won't touch it when comes to tuning and alignment before use. If they do, they will nag alot , critisize a lot and charge you unfairly. If all these is worth the few hundred bucks saved, then go for it.

A new Dahon Speed P8 plus modding the front to double chainrings is about RM2700 to RM2800. A bit offroad, why don't you go for Dahon Jetstream? Both materials, Chromo and aluminimum is very common in use and we can't really recommend without actually knowing what style or kind of rider you are. I suggest you read the post from V1, most of the answers are there.

PS/Don't forget about the custom's tax and also the GST as well !

The shifters can get from Sai86 or Dave who are from the northern states. No need to get from KL. Sai is cheaper though. They post their products in bicyclebuysell.com site. They comes inpairs though , left and right. For 9 speed it starts from Shimano Altus and then Shimano Alivio. If you want to use roadbike RDs, then go for Shimano Sora which is more expensive though.

Those days quality shifters are in 9 speed as well, that's before they introduce 10 speed. Shimano produces 9 speed Deore, LX, and XT. and even XTR. But you need to keep a look out for them in the buysell forum. Now the quality ones are mostly 10 and 11 speed. Yeah it call 'trigger shifters'.