By Lian Cheng
KUCHING, Nov 2: Budget 2019 not only safeguards the interests of the people but minimises corruption and wastage of government funds rampant in the previous administration, stated Julau MP Larry Sng.
He particularly approved of the new policy of imposing higher tax on gaming industry and of the federal government’s initiative to reduce the number of special draws by 50 per cent.
“The federal government has taken the appropriate action in minimising gambling activities,” Sng said when commenting the tabling of Budget 2019 by Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng.
Lim announced that the casino license would be increased from RM120 million to RM150 million per annum; casino duties to be increased up to 35 per cent on gross collection; machine dealer’s license to be increased from RM10,000 to RM50,000 per annum; and gaming machine duties to be increased from 20 per cent to 30 per cent on gross collection as well as the number of special draws will be reduced by half.
Sng said in general, the 2019 Budget was a good budget with special attention given to Sarawak and Sabah.
“The 2019 Budget is a people-centric budget which is targeting at the B40 (those earning RM3,000 and below) group.
“Special attention has also been given to Sarawak and Sabah,” Sng told DayakDaily after the reading the very first budget of Pakatan Harapan government.
For Sarawak and Sabah, he was referring especially to the allocation of RM4.3 billion for Sarawak’s Pan Borneo Highway and RM150 million allocation to uniform the prices of essential items including sugar, flour, local rice, cooking oil and liquified petroleum gas as well as Ron 95. — DayakDaily
