Latest news with #SabahProgressiveParty
Daily Express
4 days ago
- Business
- Daily Express
Clarity needed in tax policy: Yong
Published on: Wednesday, June 18, 2025 Published on: Wed, Jun 18, 2025 Text Size: Yong, a Nominated Assemblyman and former Chief Minister, said recent announcements on new taxes, suspensions and postponements of policies have left Malaysians and business owners bewildered. Kota Kinabalu: Sabah Progressive Party President Datuk Seri Yong Teck Lee called on the Government to pause further tax changes, engage meaningfully with stakeholders and restore clarity, affordability and ease of collection in order to stabilise the economy and rebuild public confidence. He also urged the Inland Revenue Board to desist from enforcement on the new taxes until rates and procedures are clarified, taxpayers can afford them and collection is effective rather than punitive, as harsh enforcement risks destroying businesses and livelihoods. Advertisement Yong, a Nominated Assemblyman and former Chief Minister, said recent announcements on new taxes, suspensions and postponements of policies have left Malaysians and business owners bewildered. 'It is observed that the recently announced sales and service tax (SST) is imposed inconsistently even on the same category of products. 'For example, local and imported avocados are subject to different rates, creating confusion for both consumers and businesses,' he said. Meanwhile, tax enforcement actions are pressing forward despite the unclear guidelines and the current weak economic conditions. Yong said the first essential principle of any proper tax system is that rules must be clear enough for people and businesses to understand their obligations without confusion. 'A second foundational requirement is that tax rates be set at levels taxpayers can reasonably afford, especially in a fragile economy where many are already struggling. 'A third guiding tenet is that the Government's collection process must be simple and predictable, avoiding enforcement actions that punish those who genuinely wish to comply,' he added. Yong said the ongoing shifts in SST rules, e-invoicing deadlines, fuel subsidy adjustments and stamp duty regulations fail to meet these three core standards. 'This persistent uncertainty undermines trust, deters investment and deepens the hardship faced by struggling families and small enterprises.' * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
The Star
5 days ago
- Business
- The Star
Put tax changes on hold, engage stakeholders to ensure clarity, urges former Sabah CM
KOTA KINABALU: The government should pause further tax changes and first engage with stakeholders to restore clarity, affordability, and ease of compliance, says a former Sabah chief minister. Datuk Seri Yong Teck Lee, who leads the Sabah Progressive Party, said recent policy shifts have confused both consumers and businesses. 'This is not just about paperwork. Harsh and unclear enforcement risks destroying small businesses and livelihoods,' he said in a statement Tuesday (June 17). Yong was referring to the recent government announcements involving the revised sales and service tax (SST) structure — which expanded SST coverage from 6% to 8% for certain services starting March 1 — as well as upcoming e-invoicing requirements, fuel subsidy rationalisation plans, and stamp duty adjustments. He said tax enforcement was pressing ahead despite unclear guidelines and fragile economic conditions. He outlined three key principles that should guide any tax system — clarity in rules, affordability of rates, and predictability in enforcement. 'People must be able to understand their obligations without confusion. Rates must be reasonable, especially when so many are already struggling. And enforcement must not punish those trying to comply,' he said. He added that the ongoing changes fail to meet these principles, undermining trust, deterring investment, and worsening hardship for families and small enterprises. Yong also called on the Inland Revenue Board (LHDN) to hold off on enforcing the new tax rules until proper procedures are in place and businesses are financially ready to comply.
Daily Express
09-06-2025
- Business
- Daily Express
Draft Sandakan Recovery Plan urged
Published on: Monday, June 09, 2025 Published on: Mon, Jun 09, 2025 By: Winnie Kasmir Text Size: Lau pointed out Sandakan's unique natural resources and ecological landscape, including the Kinabatangan River, tropical rainforests and conservation areas, which have high potential for development as international eco-tourism destinations. SANDAKAN: Sabah Progressive Party Vice President cum Tanjung Papat Division Chairman Lau Chi Keong wants the government to immediately draft a Sandakan Recovery Plan to address its long-standing development challenges. The proposed plan focuses on infrastructure improvements, establishing an Urban Transformation Centre (UTC), developing tourism packages and creating mechanisms to retain talented youths to pull Sabah's second-largest city out of its prolonged developmental stagnation. Advertisement Lau said the Sabah Government should prioritise addressing water supply, electricity and road issues that have plagued Sandakan for years, while making it a priority to set up a UTC to improve administrative efficiency and public service delivery. He also suggested creating a small and medium enterprise incubation centre to encourage local entrepreneurship and integrate industry supply chains. 'We need to be more proactive in tourism by developing eco-tourism, historical and cultural tours, and food trails, positioning Sandakan as an international transit tourism city,' Lau said in a statement. Lau pointed out Sandakan's unique natural resources and ecological landscape, including the Kinabatangan River, tropical rainforests and conservation areas, which have high potential for development as international eco-tourism destinations. Advertisement However, he expressed disappointment over the lack of coordination and promotion by previous governments, which resulted in these resources being underutilised and stunted economic growth. Addressing local economic recovery, Lau said skilled worker migration must be tackled first. He called on elected representatives to establish technology and skills training centres to enhance youth competitiveness. Lau noted that basic infrastructure issues in Sandakan remain unchanged from previous administrations to the present. Lau praised new Sandakan Municipal Council President Walter Kenson for showing results in city cleanliness management within less than four months in office. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
The Star
27-05-2025
- Politics
- The Star
Tackle Sabah's issues instead of bickering over seats, SAPP tells parties
KOTA KINABALU: As political parties scramble for seats ahead of the Sabah state election, Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) has called them out for seeming to ignore issues affecting the people. The party said voters deserve to hear concrete plans on autonomy, land reforms, and Sabah's rights under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) – not just endless negotiations over who gets to contest where. SAPP president Datuk Yong Teck Lee said many Sabahans, himself included, still have no idea what some political parties and leaders are fighting for. ALSO READ: Sabah polls: State parties risk becoming 'dogs chasing cars', says SAPP president 'So far, the politicians talk only about seats, seats and more seats. How about talking about the issues for the coming Sabah elections? "Don't be like dogs chasing cars without any idea of what to do after catching up with the car," he reiterated in a statement on Tuesday (May 27). Yong, who was Sabah chief minister from 1996 to 1998, asked if these parties were willing to take firm stands on issues in the state, such as issuing Sabah identity cards to bona fide Malaysian citizens and the demand for Labuan to be returned to Sabah. He also highlighted the lack of political will to fight for the restoration of one-third of parliamentary seat representation to Sabah and Sarawak, saying this was fundamental to restoring balance within the federation. He further criticised the silence of major political blocs, including those in Pakatan Harapan and Barisan Nasional, on the 40% net revenue entitlement and the Territorial Sea Act 2012. ALSO READ: Introduce a 'Sabah IC' to settle citizenship issues for good, says ex-CM Yong 'Which party will fearlessly champion that the 40% net revenue claim is RM2.6bil per annum?' he asked. Yong also questioned the continued reliance on Peninsular Malaysian companies for infrastructure and services in Sabah. 'Is Sabah so incapable of making simple things like kiosks? What do we have KKIP (Kota Kinabalu Industrial Park) for?' he said. He urged political leaders to stop treating Sabah as a battleground for seats and instead prove they are serious about reforms that matter to ordinary Sabahans.
Borneo Post
26-05-2025
- Business
- Borneo Post
MyKasih puts pressure on Sabah retailers - SAPP
Alex Soon TAWAU (May 26): The federal government's MyKasih aid programme, while aimed at helping Low-income groups ease their living costs, has unintentionally increased the operational pressure on Sabah's local small and medium enterprises (SMEs), especially retailers, due to restrictions on product categories and merchant qualifications. Pointing this out in a statement on Monday, Alex Soon, Supreme Councillor Tawau Sri Tanjong CLC Chairman, Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP), said under the programme, except for eggs, fresh agricultural products such as vegetables, fruits, and meat cannot be purchased using the subsidy. Each eligible household is entitiled for RM50 to RM200 per month allowance, and the programme will continue until the end of this year. Its impact is wide-ranging and long-term. More critically, Alex said only large retail chains are equipped with the systems required to support the MyKad cashless credit system. The vast majority of local SMEs are unable to participate. 'This has directly caused small retailers to lose customers and suffer sharp drops in sales. Many grocery shops are unable to sell even basic goods like rice, cooking oil, and milk for an entire month, leading to severe inventory backlogs,' he said. Despite this, he said the Sabah Minister of Industrial Development and Entrepreneurship (MIDE) has yet to respond or propose any solution, and has instead been making frequent official overseas visits. This has triggered concern and dissatisfaction within the industry. While the MyKasih programme has indeed benefitted vulnerable groups, he said its implementation has also eroded the market share of local SMEs and disrupted the existing supply chain ecosystem. 'This kind of arrangement livens up already-thriving hypermarkets, while marginalising small retailers.' Alex said MIDE must urgently face this issue and coordinate with the relevant federal agencies to ensure SMEs are not excluded from aid policies. At the same time, supporting measures must be put in place to ease market imbalance, maintain the diversity and resilience of the local economic cosystem, and prevent local SMEs from being completely eliminated or disappearing in this wave.
