Latest news with #SMJEnergyNetworking
New Straits Times
03-07-2025
- Business
- New Straits Times
Sabah seeks clearer tax law, more local role in oil and gas industry
KOTA KINABALU: The Sabah government is moving to strengthen its sales tax framework through proposed amendments to the State Sales Tax (CJN). Finance Minister Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun said the amendments would be tabled during the two-day state assembly sitting next week, which is also meant for the tabling of the supplementary budget. The amendments aim to remove ambiguity in tax collection, streamline the appeal process, and improve enforcement. "We want the provision to be crystal clear, so there's no ambiguity. "We also want to ensure that taxpayers have ample opportunity and room to appeal if they are not satisfied with the tax. "We also want to improve governance and, of course, implementation by our tax officers, so that everyone's role is clearly defined and leaves no room for doubt," he told the media during the SMJ Energy Networking dinner here. When asked whether the state was pursuing increased oil and gas royalties to boost revenue, Masidi said the matter was still on the table. However, he said the Sabah government is also prioritising long-term economic gains by increasing local participation in the oil and gas sector. "If it's just about royalties, the money goes straight to the government. "But if we focus on building a vibrant oil and gas industry in Sabah, many local companies will benefit, and jobs will be created. "When SMJ Energy facilitates their entry into the market, the number of companies actively pursuing business opportunities continues to grow," he said, adding that oil and gas development is also planned for Sabah's east coast to further stimulate the economy. Sabah currently receives a 5 per cent royalty from Petronas under a 1976 agreement. However, the state has long maintained that the amount is insufficient and has called for it to be increased to 20 per cent. SMJ Energy Sdn Bhd, which is owned by the Sabah government, is tasked with increasing revenue sharing, securing greater participation, and expanding the state's influence in oil and gas production and its value chain.
New Straits Times
03-07-2025
- Politics
- New Straits Times
Authorities have what they need in Sabah mining graft case, says Masidi
KOTA KINABALU: Sabah Finance Minister Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun has declined to comment further on the state mining prospecting licence scandal, saying the matter is already before the courts and authorities "have what they need." "The case is really in court. "I mean, I don't think there's anything necessary to comment on," he told reporters after the SMJ Energy Networking dinner here last night. In November last year, Masidi was among several assemblymen implicated in short video clips linking them to a corruption scandal, which the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) dubbed "Op Adun". Following the publication of his video on Malaysiakini in December, Masidi immediately volunteered to have his statement recorded at the Sabah MACC office here. When asked whether the commission had recently recalled him, he said: "I wouldn't answer that question too, but I suppose MACC probably has all that they wanted." Last week, Malaysiakini again published photos of several other Gabungan Rakyat Sabah assemblymen, including state deputy chief minister Datuk Seri Dr Jeffrey Kitingan, linking them to a similar scandal. The article was published less than 48 hours before businessman Datuk Albert Tei and two Sabah assemblymen, namely, Datuk Dr Yusof Yacob and Datuk Andi Muhammad Suryady Bandy, were charged at the Kota Kinabalu Court here. Tei pleaded not guilty to offering bribes, while both assemblymen also denied receiving graft from the businessman. Their case management is fixed for Aug 5.
