Wong speaks at the meet-the-people gathering.
SIBU: The Pakatan Harapan (PH)-led government has been severely criticised for being callous to the economic difficulties faced by the people.
Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) Dudong chairman Wong Ching Yong cited the departure tax for air travellers, effective last month, as an example of the federal government exploiting the people’s hard-earned money.
“Malaysians now have to pay the passenger service charge (PSC) in addition to the departure tax (DT). Malaysia is the only country in the world where its people have to pay two taxes when travelling overseas,” he said during a recent meeting with the people in Sungai Pak Ba Wang Temple in Durin near here, together with his executive committee.
About 280 people attended the event.
Among the problems brought up were the deplorable road condition, poor lighting and poor drainage in the area, which would be forward to the relevant authorities.
Wong said the departure tax starts from RM8 for Asean destinations, RM20 (non-Asean destinations), RM50 (business class – Asean countries) and RM150 (business class – non-Asean countries) per passenger, whereas passengers departing from KLIA2 to Asean countries had been paying PSC ranging from RM8 to RM32.
He said Transport Minister Anthony Loke’s statement that the DT would be paid to the government and the PSC to the Malaysian Aviation Commission (Mavcom), was ‘ridiculous and unconvincing’.
“From the views of passengers, whether it is the DT or the PSC, the money is from the pockets of the people, who are the victims.
“The imposition of DT also contravenes Promise 32 of the Buku Harapan, which stipulates ‘taxation is a mechanism to help the government fund programmes to help the people’.
“It is important for the nation to contribute towards a more sustainable economic development and to encourage investments, but at the same time, to not burden the low-income earners. DT is definitely an unfriendly tax, both to the ordinary people and the business community,” he pointed out.
Wong called upon the PH government to immediately abolish the DT so as not to increase the economic burden of the people. He also criticised the PH government for failing to fulfil the election promises made before the 14th general election last year, particularly the promise of 20 per cent oil royalty to Sarawak.
“Not long ago, (Finance Minister) Lim Guan Eng said it was difficult to pay the 20 per cent oil royalty to Sarawak. A few days ago in New York, our Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said it was not practical to give 20 per cent oil royalty to Sabah and Sarawak.”
Meanwhile SUPP Dudong deputy chairman Kelvin Kong, who also spoke, thanked the local residents for their support in last year’s parliamentary polls.
He said although he lost, he would never forget the support thrown by his Vui Neng clan in Sungai Pak.
He appealed to everyone to strongly support Wong, who had been recommended by SUPP Dudong branch to be the candidate for Dudong constituency in the next Sarawak state election.