BETONG: The total collection of State Sales Tax (SST) from 2019 until October 6 this year is RM14.9 billion, said Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas.
He said Sarawak is entitled to impose a state law to collect petroleum products sales tax from 2019 onwards.
“It’s not easy to ask for this right (SST).With the firmness and courage of Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg, he brought this matter to court and subsequently, Sarawak won.
“Thus, since 2019, Sarawak has the right to collect SST for petroleum and gas to increase Sarawak’s revenue,” he said.
Uggah, who is also Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) deputy president, was speaking at PBB Special Convention for Betong Zone held at Tan Sri Stephen Kalong Ningkan Sports Hall, here today (Oct 8).
Meanwhile, he said the state had witnessed tremendous development and proven to be an advanced, safe, and prosperous region in Malaysia over 60 years.
Among them, Sarawak’s poverty rate has decreased from 56.6 per cent in 1976 to 10 per cent in 2022, and the World Bank has also recognised Sarawak as a high-income state.
“This clearly indicates the success of various development programmes implemented by the Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) government spearheaded by PBB,” he said.
He added that infrastructure projects such as bridges in the Betong zone are currently being built to ease movement.
Aside from bridges, he said that the Coastal Road and Second Trunk Road projects, which will pass through Betong, are also currently being implemented.
“These projects, besides offering alternative routes, will further enhance our connectivity to the rest of Sarawak.
“All of these are in active construction. We, through the Ministry of Infrastructure and Port Development and the state Public Works Department (PWD) office, will closely monitor from time to time to ensure that all these projects are completed according to their respective schedules and with the specified quality.
“This proves that the Premier keeps his promises and ‘bukan air liur saja’ (not just merely talks). These projects will definitely improve the quality of life for the people in the 14 PBB branches in the Betong Zone,” he said.
