SIBU: Dudong SUPP says the departure tax, which came into effect on Sept 1, is exploiting the people’s hard-earned money.
Anyone who flies out from the country will have to pay a departure levy ranging from RM8 to RM150, the federal government announced recently.
Dudong SUPP chairman Wong Ching Yong, speaking at a gathering at Sg Pak Da Ba Wang temple Sunday night, said in addition to the departure tax, travellers also had to pay the Passenger Service Charge (PSC).
“Malaysia is the only country in the world whereby its people have to pay two taxes when travelling overseas,” he lamented.
He criticised the Pakatan Harapan (PH) federal government for its callous disregard for the economic difficulties faced by the people.
The departure tax is divided into economy class and non-economy class, involving two kinds of destination, namely Asean countries and non-Asean countries.
The tax is RM8 (Asean countries), RM20 (non-Asean countries), RM50 (business class, Asean countries) and RM150 (business class, non-Asean) per passenger.
Passengers departing from KLIA2 to Asean countries have been paying PSC ranging between RM8 and RM32.
Transport Minister Anthony Luk said the departure tax was paid to the government and the PSC was paid to the Malaysian Aviation Commission.
He added that the two payments were different and that PSC was not a tax.
“Such a statement is ridiculous and unconvincing. From the views of passengers, whether it is the departure tax or the PSC, money is from the pockets of the people, who are the victims.
“The imposition of the departure tax also contravenes Promise 32 of Buku Harapan, which stipulates: Taxation is a mechanism to help the government fund programmes to help the people. It is important for the nation’s tax policy to contribute towards a more sustainable economic development, encourage investment, and at the same time, not burden low income earners,” Wong said.
“The departure tax is definitely an unfriendly tax, both to the ordinary people and the business community.”
Wong wanted the federal government to abolish the departure tax immediately.
He also criticised the PH federal government’s failure to fulfill promises made before GE14, particularly the return of 20 per cent oil royalty to Sarawak.
“The leaders of Sarawak PH repeatedly and publicly stated that as long as PH came to power, they would immediately return the 20 per cent unconditionally to Sarawak.
“Not long ago, Lim Guan Eng said it was difficult to return the oil royalty. A few days ago, in New York, Dr Mahathir said it was not practical to give back 20 per cent oil royalty back to Sabah and Sarawak,” Wong said.
Dudong SUPP deputy chairman Kelvin Kong also spoke, and throughout his speech, he used the Vui Neng dialect to thank residents for their support in last year’s parliamentary election.
He said that although he lost, he would never forget their warm support, appealing also to them to get behind Wong, who is being recommended by Dudong SUPP as the candidate for Dudong constituency for the state polls.
Wong, said Kong, had been former Dudong assemblyman Datuk Dr Soon Choon Teck’s right-hand man and advisor for over 20 years.
“He is therefore very familiar with Dudong state constituency and is its best candidate.
