'Exemption of GST in <b>Sabah</b> 'non-negotiable' - The Borneo Post Online Berita Sabah - News 2 Sabah |
| 'Exemption of GST in <b>Sabah</b> 'non-negotiable' - The Borneo Post Online Posted: 10 Feb 2014 10:11 AM PST KOTA KINABALU: The support for the introduction of Goods and Services Tax (GST) in Sabah needs to be 're-examined' by the Sabahan government leaders. State Reform Party (Star) Sabah chief Datuk Dr Jeffrey Kitingan made this call in response to Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman's statement that the government is supporting the implementation of GST in Sabah. "The Sabah government leaders need to have their heads examined for wrongly supporting the implementation of GST in Sabah without considering the rights of Sabah and the welfare of Sabahans," he said according to a press statement released yesterday. "The best formula for Sabah and Sabahans is still the exemption of GST in Sabah. By right, this should be the only and 'non-negotiable' option to be adopted by the Sabah government if they are genuinely looking after the interests of Sabah and Sabahans," said Jeffrey, who is also Bingkor assemblyman. Jeffrey pointed out that it was agreed during the formation of Malaysia in 1963 that Sabah will have control of its own finances, tariffs and development funds. "Point No 11 of the 20-Point Agreement states that North Borneo (Sabah) should have control of its own finance, development funds and tariffs. "The sovereign right to impose sales tax was subsequently incorporated in Article 95B (3) of the Federal Constitution, and it is deemed to be a matter under the State List under the 9th Schedule and not under the Federal List," Jeffrey said. Article 95B(3) of the Federal Constitution states: "The Legislature of the State of Sabah or Sarawak may also make laws for imposing sales tax, and any sales tax imposed by State law in the State of Sabah and Sarawak shall be deemed to be among the matters enumerated in the State List and not in the Federal List; but (a) There shall not in the charging or administration of a State sales tax be discrimination between the goods of the same description according to the place in which they originate; and (b) The charge for any federal sales tax shall be met out of sums collected from a person liable for that tax before the charge for a State sales tax. "There are no two ways about it. Sabah government needs to work towards a plan to secure exemption of GST in Sabah. "Sabahans are already the poorest in Malaysia. The Sabah government needs to take every action to safeguard the interests of Sabahans, who are not ready for GST, and Sabah has the sovereign right to collect sales tax in Sabah and should not abrogate or sub-contract this right. "As it is, Sabahans are losing more than RM40 billion in revenue annually to the federal government and Petronas," Jeffrey said, adding that if the federal government still wished to impose GST in Sabah then there would be no option but to take the federal government to court and declare GST as unconstitutional.   |
| <b>Sabah</b> MCA wants cabinet posts for party - The Borneo Post Online Posted: 12 Feb 2014 09:43 AM PST TAWAU: Sabah MCA chairman Wilfred Yong has urged the Barisan Nasional (BN) and the Prime Minister to let the party serve in the cabinet and maintain the previous quota of four ministerial posts. Wilfred said MCA is one of the BN component parties of BN and it would not be able to serve the people well without any cabinet posts. "The party (MCA) will have limited power and right in doing something that is demanded by the people," he said at a Chinese New Year dinner celebration organized by MCA Kalabakan, Tawau and Semporna here on Tuesday night. "I also hope the MCA members could provide 100 per cent support to the party for the cabinet posts," Wilfred added. MCA is expected to call for an extraordinary general meeting (EGM) soon to review the party's resolution to decline Cabinet appointments. President Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai expressed hope that more MCA delegates would agree for an EGM to be called so a vote could be taken on the resolution. In the party's annual general meeting in 2011 and 2012, MCA made a resolution not to accept any government post should it perform badly in the 2013 general election. The party only won seven parliamentary and 11 state seats in last year's election, compared to 15 parliamentary and 32 state seats it won in 2008. At the Oct 20 EGM last year, delegates rejected a motion to rescind the decision but supported two motions, allowing for the party to accept appointments like Senators or other government positions, as well as appointments at the state level, including state executive councillors. According to the party constitution, an EGM can be called by either the president, or upon receiving support from two-thirds of the central committee members or receiving support from two-thirds of the central delegates. The earliest it can be held is in seven days after requisition is received by the secretary-general. |
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