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KUANTAN – Pahang Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail has assured that the state government does not plan to hike quit rent, or land tax, over the next five years, despite targeting increased revenue every year.
He said this at the Pahang assembly sitting at Wisma Sri Pahang here today, adding that the state government has various plans to boost its coffers, including through recurring revenue collection.
“We cannot continue to be in the status quo (in revenue collection) due to various reasons such as salary increases, the increase in the number of civil servants, and the cost of living – which causes the state government to strive to increase revenue collection.
“One of the things that can be done is to increase the collection of recurring revenue, as we have approximately 740,000 land titles and if it can be increased up to one million titles, the annual revenue will increase. Likewise, if the process of changing conditions (on land status) is simplified, it will lead to higher income because it will increase land ownership,” he said.
Wan Rosdy said this when replying to a supplementary question from Chan Chun Kuang (Semambu-PKR) who wanted to know the state government’s plans to increase revenue collection without hiking land tax.
Earlier, Wan Rosdy informed that the state government collected revenue of RM1.288 billion last year, mostly made up of RM754.8 million from land revenue, followed by RM284.15 million from entertainment duties and sustainability fees; RM134.18 million from forests; and RM91 million from federal grants.
Wan Rosdy said all districts except Cameron Highlands showed an increase in revenue collection last year compared to 2021, with Kuantan recording the highest amount of RM182.25 million – followed by Bentong with RM70.68 million, Rompin with RM63.64 million, Jerantut with RM55.66 million, and Pekan with RM51.28 million.
Replying to another supplementary question from Datuk Rodzuan Zaaba (Jenderak-Umno) regarding sustainability fee collection – which was introduced last year at the rate of RM3 – Wan Rosdy said it contributed RM9 million to state revenue collection, which was placed under revenue in other categories.
“This sustainability fee is the result of a proposal from the assembly speaker (Datuk Seri Mohd Sharkar Shamsudin) when he was chairman of the Pahang Tourism Committee, with one of the objectives being that it be reused for tourism marketing in addition to making necessary improvements,” he said.
In addition, he also said the state government is ready to consider state opposition leader Datuk Seri Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man’s (Cheka-PAS) suggestion that discounts be given to those willing and able to settle tax payments for a long period such as three or five years. – Bernama, May 10, 2023