THE Government will not be able to abolish road tax as it is one of its main sources of revenue, Transport Minister Datuk Seri Chan Kong Choy was quoted as saying by Mingguan Malaysia.
In an exclusive interview with the newspaper, the minister said the Government earned RM2bil from road tax annually.
However, he said the Government might consider the possibility of reducing the tax to ease the burden of motorists due to fuel price increases.
A detailed study of such a proposal will first have to be carried out should the Cabinet give the nod, he added.
“I think the Government is ready to consider the proposal of reducing road tax, but not do away with it. This is because road tax is among the country’s sources of revenue. That’s why this possibility (of abolishing road tax) can never be considered,” he said.
Chan, who is currently away in Australia on an official trip, was commenting on appeals from several groups who wanted the Government to abolish road tax to help low income earners deal with the fuel price increases.
The newspaper also highlighted a statement by Umno executive secretary Datuk Husainay Hashim that the appeal by former party vice-president Tan Sri Isa Abdul Samad over his suspension would likely be discussed in a supreme council meeting at the end of this month.
“However, at this point, we have yet to set an agenda for the meeting. The supreme council meeting was supposed to have been fixed for Sept 30 but the date has to be changed because it clashes with the tabling of the Budget in Parliament.
“The meeting will thus be brought forward by two or three days,” he said. .
Berita Minggu reported that the authorities would be more vigilant following reports that the drug ketamine was being smuggled into Malaysia by an Indian syndicate before being sent again to other countries.
Members of this international drug syndicate arrived in Malaysia as tourists and were believed to have connections with locals, who then arranged for the transport of this drug to destinations in China, Hong Kong and Taiwan.
A source at the Narcotics Division in Bukit Aman was quoted as saying that surveillance had been increased, particularly at the KLIA, more than a month ago.
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