“If they are ready by Aug 1, then it will be implemented by then. If not, it could be Sept 1, Oct 1, Nov 1 and Dec 1 and so on,” he told reporters here today.
The Umno minister also said the tax would be implemented nationwide, including in Sabah and Sarawak.
He said it was a federal law, adding that the tax would be implemented simultaneously nationwide.
“It is just like the GST where it was implemented nationwide,” Nazri said, referring to the goods and services tax.
He said he had initially announced that the tax would be implemented in July as per the discussion during cabinet meetings.
“But now, the date will be announced when the Customs Department says it is ready to collect the tax,” he said.
The Padang Rengas MP said in Malaysia, only two government agencies can collect taxes: the Inland Revenue Board and customs.
He also asked hotel operators, tour agencies and others who are unclear about the implementation of the tax to meet him at his office at the Malaysian Tourism Centre on Jalan Ampang.
“Come and see me if you are still unclear about the tourism tax,” he said.
Many have questioned the need to impose the tourism tax and Nazri admitted that his ministry had fielded such questions, especially on the ministry allegedly not having money.
“People asked how come the ministry does not have money (to promote tourism).
“We had previously been receiving RM200 million for promotion purposes from the Treasury. In 2014, we had more money because it was declared Visit Malaysia Year.
“However, since then, we have only been getting RM110 million, and we have to continue advertising in billboards overseas or the space will be taken by other countries,” Nazri said.
He added that if Malaysia stops advertising, other Asian countries will compete to attract tourists to their country.
“In CNN, we keep seeing Indonesia promoting their country.
“Products like McDonald’s and Coca-Cola, everyone knows them and yet they advertise so that they are not out of sight of the radar.”
He said he had to look at new ways to increase his ministry’s revenue as the cost of advertising had also gone up.
“That is why we introduced this tourism tax.
“I cannot, as a minister, start begging, ‘Please sir (the government), give me money’. Since the oil and gas prices have dropped I have had to find ways to find money. Their (government) priority is defence, education and welfare.”