Tourism tax revenue to be distributed to state govts in Q1, says Guan Eng

Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng said good debt management would be maintained to ensure the fiscal position and macroeconomy remained strong for managing any crisis.

KUALA LUMPUR: The federal government will distribute the 50% tourism tax revenue to state governments in the first quarter (Q1) of 2019, says Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng.

He said the distribution would be made after the tourism tax revenue accounts for 2018 had been finalised.

“The distribution will be made without taking into consideration whether a state still owes or is in arrears with the Federal Government.

“This means that Sarawak will still receive the tourism tax revenue distribution even though the state still owes RM2.5bil and with arrears of RM50mil to the Federal Government,” he said in a statement on Monday.

Lim said according to the Federal Constitution, the tourism tax is a federal revenue and State Governments were not entitled to it.

“Nevertheless, on the basis of the Federal Government's respect to the states, the distribution of 50% from the (tourism) tax will be made as announced in the 2019 Budget on Nov 2, last year,” he added. - Bernama