Govt to come up with new approach on AP: Mukhriz

April 28, 2009

JOHOR BAHARU: The government is to make a comprehensive decision on Approved Permit (AP) issuance, Deputy Minister of International Trade and Industry Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir said yesterday.

The approach would include doing away with the current policy of issuing APs or imposing levy or tax on AP holders, he said.

“Whatever it is, the basis is that if it’s going to be levy or tax, the government should benefit, not certain AP holders,” he said at the sidelines of the Malaysia Unit Trust Week 2009.

Mukhriz said the ministry would come up with a solution that would be amenable to all.

“The AP issue is high on the ministry’s agenda of deliberations to come up with a new mechanism. As you can see, the AP issue is quite a contentious one.

“Give us a bit more time before the minister makes a final decision. With the Cabinet approval, he will make the announcement,” he added when asked on the demand by certain parties for AP to be opened to all.

— Bernama

Income tax paid by AP owners confidential: Kong
Tuesday, March 24th, 2009

KUALA LUMPUR: Income tax paid by owners of approved permits (APs) for the import of luxury cars cannot be revealed to the public, the Dewan Rakyat was told yesterday.

Deputy Finance Minister Datuk Kong Cho Ha, when winding up debate on the Income Tax Bill (Amendment) 2009, said the confidentiality of this information was provided for under Section 138 of the Income Tax Act 1967.

He said this in reply to a question on the matter from Datuk Ibrahim Ali (Ind-Pasir Mas).

To a supplementary question from Ibrahim as to why English was also used in the text of the bill besides Bahasa Malaysia, Kong said it was a continuation from the 1967 Act to preserve the precise meaning of the contents.

He further agreed to Ibrahim’s proposal that this should be rectified (having it completely in Bahasa Malaysia) as soon as possible.

To a proposal by Salahuddin Ayub (PAS-Kubang Kerian) that income tax be reduced to alleviate the burden of workers, Kong said the government reviewed the situation from time to time and did provide tax exemptions and rebates.

He said of the 11 million workers in the country, only 1.1 million paid income tax, while of the 500,000 registered companies, tax revenue only came from 104,000.

— Bernama