Sarawak collects RM8.52 bln in SST since 2019, making it biggest contributor to overall State revenue

File photo for illustration purposes

By Karen Bong

KUCHING, May 26: The State Sales Tax (SST) imposed on petroleum products by the Sarawak government since January 2019 has become the major contributor to the overall State revenue with a total revenue of RM8.52 billion collected to date.

Second Minister for Finance and New Economy Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas also revealed that Sarawak collected RM813 million for the first quarter of this year.

“For the year 2021, a sum of RM2.458 billion was received from SST on oil and gas,” he told the august House when delivering his winding-up speech today.

Responding to issues raised by Bawang Assan member Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh on whether Petronas has paid RM3.876 billion SST as budgeted in 2022 estimates, Uggah informed that the amount of SST budgeted comprised sales tax from various taxable items and not just oil and gas.

They include oil and gas of RM3.162 billion, crude palm oil and crude palm kernel oil (RM600 million), lottery (RM60 million), tyre (RM5 million) and aluminium (RM49 million).

Meanwhile, Wong also attempted to get further clarifications on several issues in the House, but Uggah, who is also Deputy Premier, has refused to take additional questions. — DayakDaily