‘Taxi vehicles may be duty free’
Island will be tax-free zone with ‘Syurga Keluarga’ concept, says MB
NURADZIMMAH DAIM IPOH news@nst.com.my
MOTORCYCLES and other vehicles that will be used as taxis sold on Pangkor Island may be made duty-free products, said Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir.
He said the state government was currently in talks before implementing the duty-free status of the island.
Zambry criticised opposition leaders who questioned the government’s decision not to include cigarette and alcoholic beverages in Pangkor Island’s duty-free zone announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak in the 2018 Budget tabling in lst month.
“They said without these items, the status is meaningless. We want Pangkor to be a tax-free zone with a concept of 'Syurga Keluarga' (Family Paradise).
“The focus will be on other items like dishware, necessities, branded apparel and chocolates. We are discussing the possibility of including crystal products, jewellery, baggage and kitchenware. We want to promote a healthy lifestyle approach for Pangkor,” he said in his wrap-up speech for the state’s 2018 Budget.
On a separate matter, he said the allegations by opposition leaders in Perak on the state’s economy, including its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) being on the decline, were false and manipulative.
“The opposition representatives had said that Perak's GDP had seen a decline.
“The statement made (in state legislative assembly) by the (DAP) leaders, namely from Sitiawan (Datuk Ngeh Koo Ham), Pasir Pinji (Howard Lee Chuan How), Kepayang (Nga Kor Ming) and Pokok Assam (in the state assembly) was not only wrong, but reflects their intention to manipulate without understanding the facts on how GDP is measured,” he said.
He said Ngeh, during the debate, mentioned that the GDP per capita in Perak had dropped to RM14,457, with a RM1,142, or 7.32 per cent, decline.
However, based on figures furnished by the Statistics Department, Perak recorded a RM15,809 GDP per capita in 2009 and not RM14,457 as mentioned by Ngeh.
“There was a decline in GDP per capita from RM16,552 recorded in 2008 with a RM743 or 4.48 per cent drop.”
He said the decline was also experienced by other states including Penang which saw a 10.67 per cent drop from RM33,694 in 2008 to RM30,098 in 2009, while Selangor had seen a drop from RM29,273 to RM28,468.
“The national average had also Park (Taman Kekal Pengeluaran Makanan) approach will be given priority.
“The cooperation from Kuala dropped from RM27,929 in 2008 to RM25,385 in 2009.
“The GDP per capita in Perak has since seen an increase. In 2010, it has increased to RM18,207, or 15.1 per cent, compared with 2009, and RM27,246 in 2016. Isn’t this proof of Barisan Nasional’s success?
“It is apparent that the leaders from across the divide were not satisfied as the facts issued by the Statistics Department were not in favour of their political lust,” he said. Kangsar District and Land Office is being sought to identify suitable plots of land with an area between 100ha and 200ha,” he said.