KUCHING, Nov 9: A rally in support of Sarawak government’s move to impose a five per cent sales tax on petroleum products starting next year will be held this Sunday (Nov 11) at the Central Padang at 10.30am.
Convenor Alim Mideh, in a press statement today, believed that the announcement by Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg, when tabling the 2019 State Budget recently, had the support from all Sarawakians.
“It is within our constitutional right to impose sales tax on our resources found within our land and territorial waters, and Sarawak and its citizens is the landowner.
“The sales tax is taxed at source on all petroleum companies operating in Sarawak, which will be collected by our Sarawak Treasury, and this tax revenue will be reported at our Sarawak Budget every November,” he said.
Sarawak’s right to impose sales tax, he pointed out, was written in the Malaysia Agreement 1963 and in the Federal Constitution.
“The intervention of the federal government or any oil company will not be acceptable to the people of Sarawak, and this is our popular sentiment,” asserted Alim.
Sarawak, he said, must not waver in its pursuit to strengthen the state’s rights and control over its oil and gas resources.
“Time is of the essence, and we cannot afford to wait and beg from the federal government longer as every day lost is an economic loss to the people of Sarawak.
“In all of the last 55 years, the federal government had not proven its sincerity and commitment to develop Sarawak, and it is time for the people of Sarawak to determine our future,” he emphasised.
Alim can be reached at 012-8467234 for further details of the rally this coming Sunday. — DayakDaily
