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Tourism Tax To Be Implemented On Aug 1: M’sia Customs Department

The implementation of the Tourism Tax (TTx) will begin on August 1 this year, as announced by the Malaysian Customs Department on their website.

Prior to the enforcement date, operators of accommodation premises are required to register their businesses starting July 1.

Regulated by the Finance Ministry and the Customs Department, the tax is charged at a specific rate on tourists staying at any accommodation premises provided by an operator of the said accommodation premises.

These accommodation premises are buildings including hostels, hotels, inns, boarding-houses, rest houses and lodging houses, held out by the proprietor, owner or manager, either wholly or partly, as offering lodging or sleeping accommodation to tourists for hire or any other form of reward, whether or not food or drink is also offered.

Tourist accommodation premises are any accommodation which have been registered by the Commissioner under subsection 31C (1) Tourism Industry Act 1992.

It is stated in the announcement that this tax is implemented using a mechanism of cooperation between the government and the industry to enhance tourism experience for tourists.

Tax returns will be used to develop the tourism industry, namely the enhancement of tourism infrastructure and facilities, tourism promotional activities and campaigns.

Implementation of this tax is also an effort to protect, preserve and conserve Mother Nature, culture and heritage for the benefit of the present and future generations.

According to the announcement, tax rate is fixed at RM20 (S$6.50) per room per night (five-star), RM10 (S$3.20) per room per night (four-star), RM5 (S$1.60) per room per night (one-, two- and three-star), RM2.50 (S$0.80) per room per night (one, two and three Orchid) and RM2.50 (S$0.80) per room per night (non-rated accommodation premises).

Whether Malaysian nationals or otherwise, a “tourist” defines any persons visiting any place in Malaysia for purposes including recreation or holiday, culture, religion, visiting friends or relatives, sports, business, meetings, conferences, seminars or conventions, studies or research, any other purpose which is not related to an occupation that is remunerated from the place visited.

Under the TTx, the registered operator is liable to collect tourism tax from a tourist upon his or her departure and pay the tourism tax collected to the Customs Department in respect of his taxable period.

The announcement also stated that an exemption of the tourism tax is available for ‘homestay’ registered with Ministry of Tourism and Culture, ‘kampung stay’ registered with Motac, accommodation premises established and maintained by religious institutions not for commercial purposes or accommodation premises with less than 10 rooms.

Accommodation premises operated by the Federal Government, State Government or statutory body for training, educational or accommodation not for commercial purposes are also eligible for the exemption.

Source: http://www.todayonline.com/

June 7, 2017
If Not Ready To Be Inclusive, Please Don’t Use Iftar In Description Of A Non-Halal Potluck

Someone shared a flyer about “Potluck Iftar Dinner @ Block 101” organised by Choa Chu Kang Zone 3 Committee. To what seem to be a joke or surprise to some, the flyer added a note saying all residents are welcomed. Those who are interested in attending the dinner are expecting to bring at least one signature dish (halal/non-halal per family). The person who shared then suggested that any non-muslim organiser should avoid using Islamic terms like Iftar or Ramadan, ie. Bazar Ramadan, if they are not ready to be inclusive.

Don’t believe? See it for yourself below.

May I suggest any non-muslim organiser to avoid using Islamic terms like Iftar or Ramadan, ie. Bazar Ramadan, if you are not ready to be inclusive. This is to avoid unnecessary confusion. I would also like to suggest our muslim MPs to remind your colleagues to be more sensitive when using these terms. And RC members, please get the approval from your Muslim advisors or MPs before you disseminate such invitations. Thank you for your understanding.

Source: Zait Ismail Halimah Masa’ed

June 7, 2017
Muslim Asia Caught In The Middle As Diplomatic Row Rocks Middle East

Non-Arab nations in Asia, such as Malaysia, Indonesia and Pakistan, are getting caught in the middle after Saudi Arabia led a clampdown on Qatar, accusing the tiny emirate of supporting pro-Iranian militants.

Malaysia had rolled out the red carpet for Saudi Arabia’s King Salman at the end of February, the first by a Saudi king to Malaysia in more than a decade. Then, the following month, Kuala Lumpur signed a defence cooperation agreement with Qatar.

A source close to the Malaysian government said that the recent efforts to strengthen ties with Qatar, including a visit by the foreign minister last month, will probably now be put on the backburner.

“We have more to lose by siding with Qatar,” said the source, who requested anonymity.

On Monday, a half-dozen countries, including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, and Bahrain, cut diplomatic ties with the energy-rich emirate, accusing it of backing Tehran and Islamist groups such as the Muslim Brotherhood. Qatar has said it does not support terrorism and the rupture was founded on “baseless fabricated claims.”

Doha now faces an acute economic plight as it relies on Gulf neighbours for 80 per cent of its food imports.

The diplomatic clamp down on Qatar is seen as an indirect jab at Iran, and leaves non-Arab Muslims countries in an “uncomfortable position”, according to James Dorsey, a senior fellow at Singapore’s S Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS).

“The Saudis view Iran as the foremost terrorist threat rather than the Islamic State and a lot of non-Arab Muslims countries … would probably not agree with that,” Dorsey told Reuters.

PAKISTAN’S OFFICIAL SILENCE

Indonesia, Malaysia and Pakistan are predominantly Sunni-Muslim countries like Saudi Arabia. Jakarta has sometimes tried to play a mediating role when inter-Arab tensions have flared, particularly between Saudi Arabia and predominantly Shi’ite Muslim Iran.

Jakarta’s Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi received a phone call from Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif on Monday who wanted to discuss the rift, Foreign Ministry spokesman Arrmanatha Nasir said.

Indonesia has called for reconciliation and dialogue in the latest diplomatic clash.

The dilemmas are particularly acute for nuclear-armed Pakistan, which has the world’s sixth-largest army and the largest military in the Muslim world.

Sunni-majority Pakistan maintains deep links with the establishment in Riyadh, which provided Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif with political asylum after he was ousted in a 1999 military coup.

But with a large Shi’ite minority and a shared western border with Iran, Pakistan has a lot to lose from rising sectarian tensions. In 2015, Pakistan declined a Saudi call to join a Riyadh-led military intervention in Yemen to fight Iranian-allied insurgents.

Pakistan has maintained official silence about the latest rift in the Arab world, loathe to be seen taking sides between Saudi Arabia and Iran. Pakistan also has close ties with Qatar itself, including a 15-year agreement signed last year to import up to 3.75 million tonnes of liquefied natural gas a year from the emirate, a major step in filling Pakistan’s energy shortfall.

“Pakistan has to act very carefully. In my opinion, there is only one option for Pakistan: to stay neutral,” said retired army Brigadier Shaukat Qadir, now an independent risk and security analyst.

ISLAMIC MILITARY ALLIANCE

Pakistan’s recently retired army chief, General Raheel Sharif, travelled to Riyadh in April to lead the Saudi-led Islamic Military Alliance. The stated mission of the multinational alliance is to fight terrorism but it is increasingly seen as anti-Iran.

“There are rumours flying around that Raheel Sharif is pulling out of the Saudi-led military alliance. I hope they are true and he comes back soon,” said Qadir.

Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in January 2016 visited both Riyadh and Tehran along with Shariff, who was then the army chief, in an attempt to bridge the deepening chasm.

Relations between Malaysia and Saudi Arabia have been in the spotlight over the last two years after Saudi Arabia was dragged into a multi-billion dollar corruption scandal at Malaysian state fund lMDB, founded by Najib.

Najib has denied any wrongdoing in the money-laundering case which is now being investigated by several countries including the US, Switzerland and Singapore.

During King Salman’s visit to Malaysia, Saudi oil giant Aramco [IPO-ARMO.SE] agreed to buy a US$7 billion equity stake in Malaysian state energy firm Petronas’ major refining and petrochemical project.

But Qatar has also invested between US$12 billion and US$15 billion in Malaysia, according to media reports.

RSIS’ Dorsey said non-Arab Muslim countries like Malaysia would be “put on the spot” if the Saudis demand that its trade partners pick a side.

“They (Malaysia) can say either I do business with you, or say I’m not going to make that choice. Then the question would be how would the Saudis or Qatar respond to that,” Dorsey said. “But we’re not there yet, and there’s no certainty that it will get there.”

Source: http://www.channelnewsasia.com

June 7, 2017
Singapore Malayus, You All Looking For President Or A Budayawan? Melayu Kecam Hingga Tak Beri 2nd Chance Ke?

Y’all looking for a President or a Budayawan? You all talk cock why Malay cannot be this why Malay cannot be that then when got Malay representation you all damn kaninabuay. His company is worth over $200 million. Kau duit installment motor pun terkial-kial nak bayar lu rilek sua.

Aku dah cakap dah. Our community punya minority complex one kind. Ada je tak kena. Penguasaan Bahasa Melayu dia kurang bagus, big fucking deal. Kau try aku letak camera depan muka kau suruh kau bertutur dalam Bahasa Ibunda. Korang English dah half past six the only English words you all know are “Please Make This Viral” lepas tu exclamation mark letak belasan lebih. Language can be learned, polished. Business acumen, resilience, kau ada?

Kau takda. Also, how Malay you all want him to be? Kau expect dia pakai tanjak, keluarkan keris, bersyair depan reporters? And people actually have the nerve to make fun of how his wife look? She is swimming in money. Kau swim dalam apa? Hutang? Duduk depan TV tengok JUS hoping to get $10,000 dalam cabutan bertuah ke? Sungai.

Orang tu baru je pick up his papers. He is not even approved to run as a candidate and the community is already being damn cibai. Way to go. Bangsa lain cuma tinggal ketawakan kita. Kalau macam gini toksah ada Malay president sua. Korang not ready, evidently. Korang keluar, take a drive, roll down your window, godeh-godeh your 12 inch glow in the dark dildo gearstick, blast lagu Despacito pun cantik.

Source: Hafidz Abdul Rahman

June 7, 2017
PM Lee Breaks Fast With Congregants At Newly Upgraded Al-Muttaqin Mosque

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on Tuesday (Jun 6) joined congregants and residents from the Muslim community in iftar, or breaking fast, at at Ang Mo Kio’s Masjid Al-Muttaqin.

Mr Lee also went on a tour of the nearly 40-year-old mosque, which recently completed its upgrading works. The upgraded facility now has a capacity of 3,500, an increase of 500 prayer spaces, and barrier-free access to accommodate the growing number of senior citizens frequenting the mosque.

Minister-in-Charge of Muslim Affairs Yaacob Ibrahim who was at the event said Mr Lee was impressed with the mosque’s new look and its enhanced facilities.

“It is a good occasion for PM Lee to come to Al-Muttaqin as the mosque had just been renovated. We briefed him on the renovation and new prayer spaces that were created as well as new design. The mosque updated him on its various activities including its collaboration with Mendaki,” said Dr Yaacob. “All in all, he is happy with the visit, and he says the mosque design is very welcoming and refreshing.”

Mr Lee was also joined by his fellow Members of Parliament for Ang Mo Kio GRC, Dr Koh Poh Koon, Dr Intan Azura Mokhtar, Daryl David and Gan Thiam Poh.

“Iftar is something we have done for a long time whereby we open our mosques during fasting month and Hari Raya,” said Dr Yaacob. “We open our doors to all races and backgrounds, we always encourage our mosques to do so across the island. We also have people from the constituency who visit us and this is a testament to the ties that binds us as a society. Coming together over a meal is always a good occasion and iftar offers this, coming together of local Singaporeans, foreign workers and people from all races.”

Source: http://www.channelnewsasia.com/

June 7, 2017