Bold tourism move by Hajiji: PKR veep
Published on: Sunday, August 11, 2024
By: Hayati Dzulkifli
“In is timely that all tourism matters including the Sabah Malaysia My Second Home (Sabah MM2H) program be returned to Sabah and Hajiji did the right and wise move for the sake of Sabah,” Awang Sahari said.
Kota Kinabalu: Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) Vice President Awang Husaini bin Datuk Sahari praised Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Haji Noor’s vision to put tourism under the Residual List.
He said Article 77 of Federal Constitution states that the Residual List is for any topic not covered in the Ninth Schedule (of the Federal Constitution) and deemed to reside in the hands of the States.
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“In is timely that all tourism matters including the Sabah Malaysia My Second Home (Sabah MM2H) program be returned to Sabah and Hajiji did the right and wise move for the sake of Sabah,” Awang Sahari said.
He noted that tourism was never touched in Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) but was added in 1992 as a Federal List during PBS administration, when both federal and state governments were at odds.
“We (Sabah) must have full control of tourism and free to issue any directive backed by legislation.
“In this respect, all political parties, business corporations and Sabahans as a whole should support Hajiji’s bold stance,” he said.
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Awang Husaini said Sarawak was recently determined for Putrajaya to put tourism under the Concurrent List (list 111) of the Ninth Schedule of the Federal Constitution.
However, Sabah took a different stand by proposing Item 25A (Tourism) to be taken out from Concurrent List and put it as Residual List (where Sabah then will have jurisdiction over its State’s tourism).
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“The final stand from both states will be tabled at Malaysia Agreement 1963 Implementation Action Council Technical Committee for further action.
“This follows an amendment for greater autonomy and regulating by Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (Motac) to relinquish tourism powers in many disputed areas to Sabah and Sarawak, including Tourism Tax to avoid potential conflicts in future,” he said.
The former Putatan MP recalled rifts between federal authority and state autonomy in regulating tourism in Sabah and Sarawak since 1994 when Tourism was added as a new item 25A to the Federal List in the Ninth Schedule.
Hence, he said, it is crucial to emphasise that Sabah and Sarawak tourism must be under the jurisdiction of both states.
Awang Husaini said tourism is the State’s third-largest contributor to Sabah’s economy, having 2.6 million arrivals in 2023 and supporting more than 80,000 jobs.
He said Sabah Tourism’s ministry has set a more ambitious target of 2.8 million arrivals and bringing close to RM2 billion in revenue.
Awang Husaini also lauded Sabah Minister of Tourism, Culture and Environment Datuk Christina Liew and former Chief Minister Tan Sri Chong Kah Kiat for elevating Sabah’s tourism sector.
He said both have done a tremendous job within their abilities in consistently pursuing our Sabah-MM2h programme.
“Chong and Christina navigated Sabah to greater heights in tourism and contribute billions to the State’s coffers,” he said.
Awang Husaini was equally pleased that Federal Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture (Motac) Dato Seri Tiong King Sing had finally agreed to empower Sabah and Sarawak (SS) with full control to run its own foreign residency programme.
“This directive appears to be an administrative decision as it covers state’s authority to process applications with full control of enforcement and licensing to tourism agents.
“In addition, federal’s licensed agents will have to obtain a special licence from the state authorities and comply with the terms and conditions if they wish to wish to participate in SS-MM2H,” Awang Husaini said.
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