Kota Kinabalu: All public donations to schools in Sabah are supposed to be exempted from tax, said Federation of Chinese Associations Sabah (FCAS) President Tan Sri T.C Goh.
He pointed out that such a privilege was in accordance with the provision of the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63), but it was either forgotten or ignored all these years.
“It’s time to reinstate it. I hope the State Government and policymakers both at federal and state levels would take serious note of this and make sure that such privilege under the MA63 is immediately restored.
“FCAS will be organising a public forum themed ‘MA63: Tax Exemption for Public Donations for Schools in Sabah’ next Thursday (Dec 29) at the FCAS conference room in Karamunsing Complex, here, from 2pm to 4.30pm,” he said in a statement.
Among the speakers for the forum are Chinese community leader cum former Sabah Manpower and Environmental Development Minister (1976 to 1979), Sabah Local Government and Housing Minister (1976 to 1982) and renowned Kota Kinabalu-based Chartered Accountant, CK Wong, who will also be taking questions from the floor.
Goh, who will be the moderator of the forum, said the school boards of various Chinese independent schools, national-type Chinese secondary schools and Chinese primary schools in the State, are welcome to partake in the said forum, admission of which is free.
“The forum aims to create awareness among the school boards in Sabah, Chinese schools especially, over the said privilege accorded by the MA63, so that they could do the necessary to safeguard it.
“I believe that the restoration of such privilege would bring about a significant and positive impact to the future of fundraising activities organised by the Chinese community, in aid of the Chinese schools in Sabah,” he added.
