Exempt Sabah from GST to alleviate impact from Nazri's statement: SAPP

KOTA KINABALU: The Government should exempt Sabah from the Goods and Services Tax (GST) next year in view of the State's economic standing that was further aggravated by the Federal Tourism Minister's statement on Sabah's security, recently.Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) Vice President Chong Pit Fah said with the abolishment of fuel subsidy, Cabotage Policy, oil and gas resources taken away, coupled with the high cost of living, which are already pressing on Sabah's economy, the State's only hope is the tourism industry, which has been a top income earner for Sabah.

"But, just because of the statement made by Datuk Seri Nazri Abdul Aziz saying he cannot guarantee the safety of tourists coming to Sabah, the whole industry has gone down in a blink of an eye," he said.

Chong said in less than one week after Nazri's statement, Sabah's tourism business dropped by about 20 per cent following cancellation of reservations.

"So what is the hope that we have for next year? Imposing the GST in Sabah will only further add to the woes of the State and the people.

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"SAPP urges the Government to exempt Sabah from the GST in order to alleviate the negative impact from the Federal Tourism Minister," said Chong who is also SAPP Information Chief.

"Sabah has done so much to promote the State's natural beauty through eco-tourism but all of this went down the drain due to the statement by an ignorant Minister," said Chong.

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Replying to a question in Parliament recently, Nazri said he would not order his officers to promote Sabah's tourism because he cannot guarantee the safety of tourists until the two kidnapping incidents have been solved.

This was met by an uproar from the tourism people in Sabah, including Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun but Nazri had since defended his statement, saying his detractors should assist him to go to China and declare to them that Sabah is safe.

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