My statement is similar as Masidi's - Karim

July 5, 2017

KUCHING: The meeting between tourism ministries of Sarawak and Sabah has seen both sides agreeing that if the Tourism Act 2017 were to be enforced, it should serve as a catalyst of growth for the industry.

In a statement issued yesterday, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Environment of Sabah Datuk Seri Panglima Masidi Manjun said the meeting also agreed on the contents of a draft memorandum to be presented to the federal government.

When contacted, state Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said he agreed with what Masidi had said in the statement.

“Treat my statement as similar as his (Masidi’s),” Abdul Karim told The Borneo Post.

The statement further pointed out that the interest of the tourism industry of both Sarawak and Sabah was the overriding consideration in the preparation of the memorandum on the Tourism Tax Act 2017.

“The industry’s growth and sustainability are crucial to the future economic wellbeing of the two Borneo states,” added the statement.

Abdul Karim sambut baik pelawaan Masidi bincang Cukai Pelancongan

June 24, 2017

KUCHING: Menteri Pelancongan, Kesenian, Kebudayaan, Belia dan Sukan Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah menyambut baik pelawaan Menteri Pelanco-ngan, Kebudayaan dan Alam Sekitar Sabah Datuk Masidi Manjun berkaitan memorandum Cukai Pelancongan.

Beliau memberitahu memorandum itu bukan bererti kerajaan negeri membantah pelaksanaan cukai tersebut tetapi mahu memastikan semua pihak terlibat termasuk pemain industri pelancongan dan pengendali perhotelan mendapat maklumat jelas mengenai perkara berkenaan.

Menurutnya, memorandum akan diserahkan kepada Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak itu dikumpul bagi memperhalusi perkara berkaitan pelaksanaan cukai tersebut supaya memberi manfaat kepada Sarawak dan Sabah.

Common stand on tourism tax

June 24, 2017

Abdul Karim says state welcomes Sabah’s invitation to deliberate on some pertinent issues of the Tourism Act

KUCHING: Sarawak and Sabah have been discussing a joint approach to the tourism tax.

Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah confirmed tourism officers from Sabah and Sarawak met here last week with the Attorney-General of both states.

“We will look at this from a common stand. 

I agree with (Sabah Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Panglima) Masidi (Manjun) that the Act should be refined. We will approach it together,” he said after a special meeting with the Kuching North City Commission yesterday.

Abdul Karim said he welcomes Masidi’s invitation for a joint Sabah-Sarawak tourism tax memorandum.