KOTA KINABALU: Sabah and Sarawak Tourism Ministries have agreed on a common stand on certain major provisions of the Tourism Tax Act 2017 in a meeting this morning.
Sabah Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun said the meeting was held to discuss the implications of the Act to both states.
He said Sabah and Sarawak agreed that if the Act was to be enforced, it should contribute to national economic resilience and not as an impediment.
“The meeting has also come up with suggestions and proposals to fine-tune certain provisions of the Act to ensure growth and sustainability of the tourism industry.
“The interest of both states’ tourism industry is the overriding consideration in the preparation of the memorandum on the Tourism Tax Act 2017,” he said in a statement, adding the growth and sustainability of the industry in Sabah and Sarawak was crucial to the future of both states' economic wellbeing.
A draft memorandum on the Act would be handed to the respective Chief Ministers of Sabah and Sarawak for their endorsement.
Both leaders would then handover the memorandum to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak for further action.
Also present at the meeting were Masidi’s assistant minister Datuk Pang Yuk Ming, state permanent secretary Datu Rosmadi Datu Sulai, state Tourism Board chairman Datuk Joniston Bangkuai, as well as Sabah Deputy Attorney General Zaleha Pandin.
Meanwhile, entourage from Sarawak included Assistant Tourism, Arts and Culture minister Datuk Lee Kim Shin and his permanent secretary Datu Ik Pahon Joyik, as well as Deputy Attorney General John Wayne Sirau.
