Sabah Assistant Finance Minister Ramlee Marahaban, who voiced concern over the matter, said the premises that would be the new tax collection agencies should be transparent about their collection mechanism, so that the government could receive a high income from it and the people could benefit from it later.
He said this when speaking to reporters after handing over Ramadan aid to about 700 residents of Kampung Bangau-Bangau and Kampung Air here today.
Tourism and Culture Minister Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz was reported as saying that the tourism tax, set to see rates of between RM2.50 and RM20 charged for a night’s stay, would be enforced as scheduled on July 1.
He said the tax, which would be applied at registered hotels and inns would be able to generate an income of about RM654.62 million if there was a 60% occupancy rate at the over 11 million hotel rooms in the country.
Ramlee, who is also Bugaya assemblyman suggested to the ministry and related agencies to organise roadshows to explain the new tax.