Tourism Tax to be implemented; Zahid meets CMs
Published on: Friday, June 16, 2017
Putra Jaya: The spat over the tourism tax between Tourism and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz and the Sarawak and Sabah governments is now resolved, says Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.The Deputy Prime Minister said the issue was brought up during the Cabinet meeting on Wednesday, and it was agreed that no more should be said of the matter."The Prime Minister chaired the Cabinet meeting and we decided that the issue is resolved, and that no more statements should be made by federal or state leaders.
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"I personally met the chief ministers of Sarawak and Sabah on Wednesday. This chapter is closed so let's open a new one," he said at a press conference here.Dr Ahmad Zahid confirmed that the tourism tax will be implemented, adding that the promotion of tourism requires funds.However, he did not say how this would affect Sarawak's decision to quit the Malaysian Tourism Board.
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The issue came to light when Sarawak Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah called for the Federal Government to defer the implementation of the tourism tax in Sarawak and Sabah.In response, Nazri chided Abdul Karim over his remarks.
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Sarawak later announced that they were withdrawing its representative in the Malaysia Tourism Board with immediate effect, saying that it was a duplication of the role and functions of the Sarawak Tourism Promotion Board.Meanwhile, Barisan Nasional Ministers from Sarawak are obliged to support the ruling administration's proposed laws, said a Minister.Natural Resources and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar explained that this was consistent with the principle of collective responsibility practised among Commonwealth states."We Sarawakian MPs (who) are ministers cannot speak against the government's Bill (Tourism Tax Bill)," he said.In a related development, Parti Warsian Sabah urged the Sabah and Sarawak governments to stick to their guns in opposing the tourism tax and called on all parties to stand behind the State governments on the matter.Vice President Junz Wong cautiously welcomed State Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun reiterating the State Government's stand in objecting to the proposal for the tourism tax, as did the Sarawak government.Masidi said both state governments agreed to a common stand on the matter, but despite this, the Federal Government proceeded with the enactment of the Tourism Tax Act 2017.Masidi added that there has been little or no consultation with the state governments prior to the enactment of the law on the tax, and that the Sabah Cabinet will discuss and decide on its stand on the tourism tax at their next meeting.Wong said he was encouraged by Masidi's statement which clearly showed that Sabah and Sarawak have always been against the tax."Don't waver from your stand for the sake of Sabahans and Sarawakians. Stand firm, Warisan will stand with you on this matter," he said.In fact, Wong said now is not the time to play politics and urged all opposition parties, whether state-based or national-based parties, to support the Sabah and Sarawak governments in fending off the tourism tax from East Malaysian shores."Where they (Sabah and Sarawak governments) are fighting for our rights, we should support them, we shouldn't attack them or discredit them by playing politics or saying it is a charade or political 'wayang'!"Please focus on protecting Sabahan and Sarawakian interests instead of own political interests only," he said.Wong who is also Likas Assemblyman added that perhaps the best thing to come out of the tourism tax was that it has 'fired up' Sabahans and Sarawakians to protect their rights as enshrined under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63)."Before this issue, many people were unaware that tourism is a residual power and that residual powers belong to the states. It has renewed the spirits of Sabahans and Sarawakians who are now more interested than ever to learn about MA63 and fight for their rights.Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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