KUCHING, Oct 29: SUPP Youth secretary-general Milton Foo has challenged Pending assemblywoman Violet Yong to press for Sarawak’s five per cent sales tax on petroleum products with Putrajaya.
He expressed doubt whether the DAP lawmaker can ask Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng, who is also the party’s secretary-general, to order Petronas to pay the petroleum sales tax imposed by the state government this year.
This especially considering that the national oil corporation belongs to the Malaysian government, he continued.
Foo said he was sceptical whether Yong’s forthcoming motion on the issue to the upcoming State Legislative Assembly (DUN) meeting will solve the state’s revenue gap.
He described the Pending elected representative’s action as a political gimmick.
“If YB Violet is sincere and genuine in fighting for the non-payment of five per cent sales tax on petroleum products for Sarawak, she would not have made such an unnecessary move by filing the motion at DUN to urge the Sarawak government to sue Petronas, which belongs to the federal government.
“She should boldly urge the finance minister or the prime minister to order Petronas to pay without further delay. Don’t be dramatic on the issue but act swiftly and wisely,” Foo said in a statement.
Sarawak DAP hoped that a motion in the DUN sitting next week will lead to a court decision on the legality of the state government’s move to impose the fiver per cent sales tax on petroleum products.
Yong told reporters that she had submitted the motion to urge the state government to take legal action against Petronas (Petroliam Nasional Bhd) over the non-payment of the tax, which came into effect this year. — DayakDaily
