easy to understand. put it this way - if you buy zitron phone, and bring it to singapore, it'll become AP already (AP of singapore, but dunno what they'll call such product).

same goes to when you buy phone from singapore - it's consider an AP phone here, but you can bring back to nokia in singapore if it's still under warranty.

AP or not, you can still bring back to the service center - except AP has to pay, same goes to authorized unit, also have to pay if warranty expired.

also, AP or not, you MUST see if there's SIRIM sticker on it - AP has to go through gov to approve the permit to sell here (hence AP = approve permit), to ensure it's SAFE to use here in malaysia. if you buy the phone yourself from other country, then no need to worry about the sticker.