Dewan Negara passes three bills

THE Dewan Negara yesterday passed three bills, namely, the Labuan Business Activity Tax (Amendment) (Act 445) Bill 2017, the Courts ( Modes of Commencement of Civil Actions) Bill 2016 and the Judges’’ Remuneration (Amendment) Bill 2017.

Deputy Finance Minister Datuk Othman Aziz when tabling the Labuan Bill said that it would enable the automatic exchange of taxation information between governments and the Organisation for Economic Co- operation and Development (OECD).

“Through the amendment, the exchange of information will be refined and the collaboration in tax collection will be more effective, which is based on taxpayer’s data that is more accurate and up-todate,” he said when when winding up his speech.

Othman added, the bill would also enable taxation information for companies registered in Labuan to be reported and the international standard of taxation would be complied.

The amendment would also improve the administration of taxes, its assessment and the collection of taxes on offshore business activities within or from Labuan.

Meanwhile, Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’’s Department Datuk Razali Ibrahim when tabling the Courts Bill said, after it comes into force, all civil action in court under whatever legal action would be standardised by applying the commencement of proceedings, namely, the Originating Summons or Writ, unless exemption is provided through an Act or Ordinance.

He said the bill was required as the existing legislation, the Rules of Court 2012, was only a by-law that could cause confusion among parties when filing action.

Meanwhile, the Judges’ Remuneration Bill was aimed at amending the Judges’ Remuneration Act 1971 (Act 45).

According to Razali, among the amendments proposed was judges could resign at any age without losing pension privileges, with the condition that they had served continuously for not less than five years.

All three bills were passed unanimously without any amendments. — Bernama