Customs Dept (Sarawak) is set to collect RM950,186,761 in taxes this year.
Director-general of Royal Malaysia Customs, Dato’ Sri Khazali Ahmad, disclosed that the tax revenue collected until August this year stood at RM548,973,173.07.
“In general, the tax revenue till August this year has dropped to 8.05 per cent compared with the same period last year.
“The tax revenue at most of the Customs stations in the state also declined except Sibu and Limbang by RM200,383.25 and RM99,487.22 respectively,” he said at a press conference after officiating at the Royal Malaysia Customs Department’s Miri Office yesterday.
Khazali pointed out the decline of the tax collection figure was due to several factors.
The two main factors were that duty excise for imported vehicles is down to 25 per cent while there is no collection on extraordinary profit levy on oil palm.
He explained further, tax payments being made at Peninsular Malaysia, mostly by Malay Vehicle Importers and Traders Association (Pekema) has contributed to the reduction of duty excise import on imported vehicles.
Other than that, the export duty on crude oil has gone down to 6.91 per cent compared to the same period last year.
It was because the Ministry of Finance has given privilege to crude oil companies and contractors with exemption of oil duty export.
Overall, he said, the duty export was the main contributor to the state’s tax revenue collection this year with 49.08 per cent followed by service tax (14.95 per cent) and import duty excise (10.60 per cent).
The oil export commodity is the main contributor for export duty with 46.21 per cent and the rise in tax revenue for services sector was due to increased tourism activity in the state.
“The current economic performance in Sarawak had showed an increased in development projects such as Sarawak Corridor Renewable Energy (SCORE) in Mukah division and Samalaju, Bintulu.
“Therefore, we expected the economic performance will continue to increase and hence contribute to the increase of the department’s tax revenue collection.”
Commenting on the Customs’ new Miri office, he said the four-storey one block building costs RM19.45 million. This project was implemented under the development project approved by the government through Private Finance Initiative (PFI).
He hoped with the new building, the conducive environment for officers will improve the department’s service delivery.
In addition to that, he said today’s role for Customs is not just focused on enforcement as the department has new responsibilities such as human trafficking and strategic trade acts to protect the environment.
Also present were deputy director-general of Royal Malaysia Customs Department Dato Matrang Suhaili, deputy director-general (Management) Dato Amir Abd Hamid, deputy director-general (Enforcement) Dato Zainal Abidin Taib and Sarawak director Dato’ Jamaiah Jol.
Source:- theborneopost.com
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