By Lian Cheng
KUCHING, Nov 11: State Reform Party (STAR) president Lina Soo says the five per cent sales tax on petroleum-based products is to be paid by oil companies and Petronas, not Sarawakians.
She told Sarawakians not to worry but to have the right understanding of the issue.
“It (five per cent sales tax) is going to be collected by the Sarawak Treasury, and they are going to be paid by oil companies and Petronas.
“The rakyat are not going to pay for it. The account will be announced in our state budget every year because this is Sarawak’s revenue.
“With this, we do not have to be beggars. We can use (the money) to built roads, and provide water and electricity and to improve our schools,” she said at the “Support 5% sales tax on Sarawak oil & gas’ rally at Padang Merdeka here this morning.
The 30-minute gathering, starting from 10.30am, was supported by about 150 Sarawakians, including members of STAR, Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak Baru (PBDSB), Sarawak for Sarawakians (S4S) and Sarawak Dayak Iban Association (Sadia).
Soo said the Petronas Twin Towers in Kuala Lumpur costs RM6 billion to build and Putrajaya cost RM22 billion, while Petronas had to subsidise gas worth RM20 billion to Tenaga Nasional Berhad and independent power producers.
She said it was time for Petronas to return the money to Sarawak.
“We need the money for our own development. We don’t want this money to go to Malaya for very big projects while we are suffering,” said Soo. — DayakDaily
