KUCHING: Sarawak and Sabah agreed that the portfolio of tourism should be placed under the concurrent list during their meeting with the federal government a month ago.
In disclosing this, Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Minister Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said tourism should be taken seriously by both the federal and state governments.
“So we have agreed that Sarawak, Sabah, in our negotiations with the central government, we want it to be placed under the concurrent list and it means that the federal government will take care of tourism, and we will also take care of it.
“However, for now, it is not yet finalised and still is a preliminary discussion,” he said after he attended a courtesy visit to Borneo Cultures Museum accompanying Head of State Tun Pehin Sri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar and his wife, Toh Puan Fauziah Mohd Sanusi on Saturday.
Explaining, he said back when Malaysia was established in 1963, the portfolio of tourism was not included in the federal list, state list nor the concurrent list.
He pointed out that if it is not in any of the lists, it should be in the residual list where it automatically becomes a state matter.
“However, in 1992 or 1994, a bill was tabled to put tourism under the federal list without consulting the state. This is where I would look at it as usurping power. Usurping, because if our state is affected, we should be consulted.
“For me, tourism should be something which the federal and the state governments share because it is a very big and new industry,” he said.
While pointing out that tourism in the concurrent list will give more power to the state, Abdul Karim added that it may also include applications for the Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H) programme, and the renewal of licences for tour guides which are now all under the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture.
According to him, currently, tour guides need to go to the peninsula to study or take a course there to get the relevant licence.
“Therefore, all those matters need to be discussed. This is not about the money but it is about making Malaysia, Sarawak, and Sabah better. It is for the good of everyone.
“Any tourists that come to Sarawak, the peninsula, or to Sabah, or participants of the MM2H be it in Sarawak or Sabah, it will benefit Malaysia. This is because when they spend their money, it goes into the national coffers. So what’s the point of fighting among ourselves on the matter?
“Therefore, if the state government has licensing power over the agents of MM2H, it should not be a problem,” he said.
