VEP unwise and negative — Awang Tengah

(From right) Awang Tengah and Maria checking out a mobile food truck in Lawas.

LAWAS: Second Minister of Resource Planning and Environment Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan said Sarawak does not want the federal government to impose a RM20 Vehicle Entry Permit (VEP) charge on foreign registered vehicles as it has negative impact on the state’s economy and tourism.

He said it is an unwise decision as money earned from tourism far outweighs the small collection of RM20 for each vehicle as the state will only get RM5.

“The VEP collection is really pittance compared to the expenditure of tourists and visitors to the state, and on the other hand we have the Pan Borneo Highway project meant to facilitate travel,” he said.

Awang Tengah made the comments after inspecting the proposed Medan Niaga Lawas building here on Sunday afternoon.

He was accompanied by Deputy Minister of Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Datuk Henry Sum Agong, Limbang Resident Datu Maria Hasman and Lawas district officer Hussaini Hakim.

He said Sarawak is a major destination of Brunei visitors who flock to Miri City, Limbang, Lawas, providing a major boost to its economy.

Besides that, the state also has a significant number of visitors from Indonesia, he added.

Transporters and leaders in the state had voiced their opposition to the Minister of Transport’s decision to eventually implement the VEP, saying it would have a negative impact on tourism and multiplier effect on the economy of Sarawak and Sabah.



January 24, 2017, Tuesday Philip Kiew, reporters@theborneopost.com

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