Has Petronas paid RM3.88bil state sales tax, rep asks Abang Johari

PETALING JAYA: Bawang Assan assemblyman Wong Soon Koh has asked Sarawak premier Abang Johari Openg to explain if Petronas has fully paid the state sales tax for 2021.

At the state assembly today, Wong said an estimated RM3.88 billion in state sales tax on oil and gas production was taken into account when formulating Sarawak’s 2022 budget.

“I would like to ask the premier whether Petronas has fully paid the state sales tax accrued from the oil and gas business in 2021 and what the total amount was,” the Borneo Post quoted him as saying.

The Parti Sarawak Bersatu president then asked for updates on the state-owned Development Bank of Sarawak.

“How much of Sarawak’s reserves have been deposited with the bank? What are the so-called strategic infrastructure projects in the state that the bank has extended financing to and how much?”

According to the daily, Wong further questioned if the bank had contributed to Sarawak’s funds via dividend payments and interest on deposits after four years of operation.

He added that the people were also anxious to know the outcome of the special meetings between the federal government and Sarawak on the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).

“Has the federal government decided on increasing the grants to Sarawak, similar to or better than what Sabah has received?” he asked. — Free Malaysia Today