Lawmakers unite in call to refine Departure Levy Bill

Lawmakers from both sides of the divide have called on Putrajaya to refine the Departure Levy Bill 2019, which would impact any person who leaves the country if passed.

In debating the bill at the policy stage in the Dewan Rakyat today, lawmakers from Pakatan Harapan, BN and Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) wanted certain groups of Malaysians to be exempted from the levy.

Several lawmakers from BN and GPS also urged the bill not to be passed in the current sitting, which end on April 11.

Wong Hon Wai (Harapan-Bukit Bendera) said the interpretation of the bill, particularly with regard to the sentence 'Any Malaysian who leaves the country has to pay a levy', was too wide and needed further explanation from the government.

He questioned whether those who travel frequently to neighbouring countries will be affected.

Concurring, Ahmad Maslan (BN-Pontian) asked the government to delay implementing the departure levy.

Maslan (above) urged the government to exempt Malaysians who travel to Asean countries, as the bill would impact hundreds of thousands of Malaysians working in Singapore.

Certain groups should be exempted even they travel outside Asean countries, he said.

These include children, the elderly, disabled people, students and single mothers.

"This is definitely not a tax on tourists, but a tax on the people. When you talk about levies, the people in the village do not understand. This is, in fact, tax," he said.

'I am ashamed'

Meanwhile, Hassan Abdul Karim (Harapan-Pasir Gudang) (below) said he would only support the bill on the condition that Muslims and non-Muslims who perform pilgrimages overseas would be exempted from the departure levy.

"There has never been a departure levy imposed on those who perform pilgrimages, be it before Independence or since Independence.

"Why (is it being introduced) all of a sudden now, I am ashamed," said Hassan.

"The minister has to think carefully...Is this the ‘gift’ we are going to give the rakyat after we have been the government for one year?" he questioned.

Meanwhile, Nik Muhammad Zawawi Salleh (PAS-Pasir Puteh) said the bill would give the world the impression that Putrajaya has no other means of seeking revenue.

"Sorry for being rude. This is akin to a modern pirate who loots everything they come across in an easy manner," he said (below).

Hasbullah Osman (BN-Gerik) urged the government to postpone the bill and not to pass it during this session.

"If we pass the bill now, the people will slam us," he said.

Habi Hasbibollah (GPS-Limbang) said the bill would affect Sabahans and Sarawakians who work in Brunei.

He also demanded that the passing of the bill be postponed to another time.

The Departure Levy Bill, which was tabled for first reading yesterday, allows the government to appoint agents to collect a departure levy on anyone who leaves Malaysia.

The bill was opened for debate at the policy stage for one hour today and will be continued tomorrow.

This is to make way for the debate of the constitutional amendment on the status of Sabah and Sarawak.  - Mkini