DAP backs State’s assertion for 30 per cent of tourism tax

SIBU: Bukit Assek assemblywoman Irene Chang backs the call by State Tourism Minister Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah that 30% of the tourism tax collected should be given back to Sarawak.

In a press statement yesterday, Chang, who is also DAP Sibu vice chairperson and the state DAP’s director of Women Affairs’ Bureau, said it was high time the state government stood firm to insist on what rightfully belongs to Sarawak and its people.

“The contention for the 30% tourism tax is the right place to start in making our firm stand. The state government owes it to the people not to allow our rights to be further eroded and taken away by the Federal government.

“But the question which the industry players and the stakeholders are concerned with is this – if the federal government refuses to negotiate on the 30%, what is our state ministry’s next step? Are they going to stand firm or are they going to cave in?”

Chang called on the Tourism Ministry to stand firm and to remind the state government that the people were looking to see that this was not just some play acting in view of the coming general election.

She said from this 30% tourism tax, Sarawak should take it a step further by insisting that we also wanted 30 per cent of the GST.

“Our state is in dire need of funds to bring the development of our state to be on par with the rest of the country. The State government should flex our political muscles to wrestle back all the rights which we have lost to the federal government over the years. “