Sabah Eco

KKCCCI bantu kerajaan kukuh hubungan Malaysia dan China

2013-11-26T10:06:00.000+08:00

KOTA KINABALU: Dewan Perniagaan dan Perindustrian Tionghua Kota Kinabalu (KKCCCI) berhasrat untuk membantu Kerajaan memperkukuhkan lagi hubungan diplomatik antara Malaysia dan China dengan pelbagai aktiviti dan program.

Presidennya, Datuk Michael Lui berkata, KKCCCI akan menyediakan lebih banyak sesi dialog dan perbincangan dengan badan-badan Kerajaan dan badan bukan Kerajaan dari China yang melakukan lawatan ke sini bagi memperkukuhkan lagi hubungan dua hala termasuk dari aspek perdagangan, budaya, pendidikan dan pelancongan.

“Setakat ini KKCCCI telah menerima lebih lapan kunjungan hormat dari badan-badan Kerajaan dan badan bukan Kerajaan dari China yang turut menyertai sesi dialog bagi membincangkan segala isu yang mampu memberi kebaikan kepada kedua-dua pihak,” kata Michael di Mesyuarat Agung Tahunan KKCCCI, di sini, kelmarin.

Katanya, hubungan diplomatik antara kedua-dua Negara akan dapat diperkukuhkan lagi dengan wujudnya Konsulat China di Sabah.

Juga, pihaknya menyambut baik langkah Kerajaan yang menubuhkan ‘Bank of China’ dan bank komersil lain dari China di sini.

Katanya, penubuhan bank ini dapat memudahkan lagi ahli KKCCCI yang terlibat dengan industri perniagaan dan perindustrian bersama komuniti perniagaan dari China untuk mendapatkan perkhidmatan perbankan.

Selain itu, KKCCCI juga akan menganjurkan Kursus Latihan Perguruan Tadika China yang akan dikendalikan oleh enam pakar dari ‘China Oversea Bureau’ dan ‘China Fujian Provincial Overseas Bureau’.

Katanya, kursus tersebut akan berlangsung selama sebelas hari pada musim cuti sekolah Disember nanti.

Terdahulu, KKCCCI turut mengadakan Majlis Penyampaian Hadiah dan Sijil kepada 170 anak-anak ahlinya yang mencapai keputusan yang cemerlang dalam Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM), Penilaian Menengah Rendah (PMR), Ujian Penilaian Meenengah Rendah (UPSR) dan pra-sekolah.

New Sabah Times

Understand need to retain sales tax

2013-11-25T10:05:00.001+08:00

KOTA KINABALU: Retaining Sabah Sales Tax (SST) when the Goods and Services Tax (GST) is implemented in 2015 is a reasonable decision, said Community Development and Consumer Affairs Minister Datuk Jainab Ahmad Ayid.

Commenting on the recent statement by Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman that the GST would not be replacing the SST which is under the jurisdiction of the Sabah and Sarawak governments, Jainab said there is a need to have a clear picture on both taxes before jumping to conclusion.

“Please understand that the sales tax which will be replaced by the GST is the one under federal jurisdiction through the Sales Tax Act 1972. SST is a resource under the jurisdiction of the Sabah and Sarawak governments as stipulated under the Federal Constitution. Although we are retaining SST, the implementation of the GST is still a saving of six per cent. Under the new policy, there will be no tax on controlled items. Please remember that. We are a very concerned government,” said Jainab.

The SST is imposed on crude palm oil, slot machines and lotteries.

Jainab added that SST is an important tax for the state to ensure the revenues are channeled to the people through various development projects.

“We are talking about Sabah’s economy, we want to have enough revenues to build facilities. The state government is working hard to find resources to develop the state. Both taxes need to be understood, and we do not need speculations on this issue from the opposition,” she said.

Borneo Post

Support govt to maintain growth

2013-11-25T09:56:00.000+08:00

KOTA KINABALU: Minister of Special Tasks Datuk Teo Chee Kang urged all chambers of commerce to continue supporting the government in maintaining the economic growth momentum in Sabah.

Making the call yesterday, he said all chambers have a role in facilitating growth and should continue supporting the government in the various objectives and strategies outlined in the 2014 Budget tabled recently.

“You (chambers) can play a significant role in facilitating growth and progress, especially since you are the linkages to the business communities in Sabah,” he said.

Teo, who was representing Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman at the 10th Inter-Chamber Unity Golf Tournament at the Sabah Golf and Country Club in Luyang, said that the government wanted this biggest ever budget (RM4.622 billion) to benefit all the people, so that no area is left behind in the development mainstream at all levels.

“We want to distribute the state’s finances to benefit the target groups in the best possible way.

“In this respect I would like to call on all the chambers to continue supporting our policies and initiatives and to continue contributing towards the economic and social well-being of the state,” he said.

Teo said that Musa valued the contributions made by the various chambers and sincerely hoped they would continue to engage in development activities to help further lift the economic well-being and welfare of the people.

He also hoped closer cooperation could be forged to facilitate inter chamber activities for the good of the members.

Furthermore, to strengthen the bond among them, he said that Musa had called for greater understanding and unity to ensure even better cooperation between chambers in future.

“As Malaysians, we need to support each other…we must instill the spirit of unity, not merely tolerance.

“We must accept each other’s differences and embrace the strength of our cultural diversity.

“I believe you can play a positive role in this regard,” he told the chambers.

Meanwhile, when reiterating the 2014 Budget, Teo said it would help to strengthen the economy, improve public amenities and infrastructure and eradicate poverty.

He said it also aims to raise the people’s standard of living and achieve balanced development for the well-being of all Sabahans in both urban and rural areas.

Borneo Post