Latest news with #YongTeckLee
Borneo Post
19-07-2025
- Politics
- Borneo Post
Replace Water Department with new professional water body - Yong
Yong Teck Lee KOTA KINABALU (July 19): Former Chief Minister Datuk Yong Teck Lee has called for the total replacement of the entire Sabah Water Department with a new Sabah water statutory body. He said it has become necessary because it has become increasingly evident that the basic cause of the water supply problems in Sabah is the Sabah Water Department itself. 'Sabah has ample water resources, from our rivers, from rain and even the sea. Over the decades, billions have been spent on water supply. We even have a Sabah Water Supply Enactment 2003 that confers extensive powers to this important government department. Yet, we have been unable to solve this most basic utility called water that is needed for daily livelihood,' he said in a statement on Saturday. Yong said at a pre-council session of Sabah assemblypersons in April 2023 the Chief Minister (who chaired the meeting) was visibly upset about the perennial water supply problems. The current Minister of Public Works had just been appointed to the portfolio. 'At that pre-council meeting, I said that the minister should not rely on the Sabah Water Department for solutions because the problem is the Sabah Water Department. The minister and the Chief Minister must look and search beyond the Water Department for solutions because there are viable and cost-effective solutions. 'The Chief Minister sounded stressed by the stubborn persistence of water supply problems. I don't know whether my voice was heard or whether my views were heeded. I have done my research. As a successful plaintiff in the Water Department case of 2019, I have done extensive research on the notorious Water Department and its decades of failures. It is really getting ridiculous when the minister himself had to instruct (as reported) the Water Department to investigate why, even after the new Kasigui water treatment plant with an additional five million litres per day, there is still a shortfall in water supply in Putatan and Kota Kinabalu. 'The Water Department then found that the problem was the distribution network. First of all, the Water Department need not have waited for ministerial instructions before taking action. Secondly, the distribution and pipes problems have been known for many years. The Water Department was not formed yesterday. The Sabah Water Supply Enactment 2023 was enacted 22 years, that is one generation of Sabahans ago!' he said. Moving forward, Yong said the replacement of the Water Department will involve an amendment to the Water Supply Enactment 2003 by the dissolution of the Water Department and reconstitute a professional body. 'There are many good, conscientious professional water engineers and administrators in Sabah who can do a much better job than the Water Department. The new water supply statutory body can be led by tough professionals and with proven administrators who come with a mission and passion to finally solve Sabah's water supply problems. The ball is now in the court of the Sabah Government,' he added.
New Straits Times
07-07-2025
- Politics
- New Straits Times
Sabah assemblymen attend court hearing on state's 40pct revenue entitlement
KOTA KINABALU: Despite the ongoing Sabah State Assembly sitting today, several assemblymen took time to attend the hearing of the Sabah Law Society's (SLS) judicial review on the state's 40 per cent revenue entitlement. Among those present were former Chief Ministers Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal and Datuk Yong Teck Lee, Tungku assemblyman Assaffal P. Alian, and Sri Tanjong assemblyman Justin Wong. Also seen at the court were former Penampang member of parliament (MP) Datuk Darell Leiking and former Kota Kinabalu MP Datuk Jimmy Wong Sze Phin. The hearing commenced at 9.40am before High Court Judge Celestina Stuel Galid. The SLS filed for a judicial review in 2022, alleging that the Federal Government had breached the Federal Constitution by failing to conduct a mandatory revenue review every five years since 1974. The society also argued that the government is constitutionally obliged to remit 40 per cent of federal revenue collected from Sabah back to the state for each of those years. On Nov 11, 2022, the Kota Kinabalu High Court granted leave for the SLS to proceed with its judicial review. The Attorney General filed an appeal against the decision and obtained a stay of proceedings at the High Court. However, on June 18 last year, the Court of Appeal dismissed the Federal Government's appeal against the leave granted to SLS. The full hearing of the judicial review was set for today.
Daily Express
17-06-2025
- Business
- Daily Express
Clarity needed in tax policy: Yong
Published on: Wednesday, June 18, 2025 Published on: Wed, Jun 18, 2025 Text Size: Yong, a Nominated Assemblyman and former Chief Minister, said recent announcements on new taxes, suspensions and postponements of policies have left Malaysians and business owners bewildered. Kota Kinabalu: Sabah Progressive Party President Datuk Seri Yong Teck Lee called on the Government to pause further tax changes, engage meaningfully with stakeholders and restore clarity, affordability and ease of collection in order to stabilise the economy and rebuild public confidence. He also urged the Inland Revenue Board to desist from enforcement on the new taxes until rates and procedures are clarified, taxpayers can afford them and collection is effective rather than punitive, as harsh enforcement risks destroying businesses and livelihoods. Advertisement Yong, a Nominated Assemblyman and former Chief Minister, said recent announcements on new taxes, suspensions and postponements of policies have left Malaysians and business owners bewildered. 'It is observed that the recently announced sales and service tax (SST) is imposed inconsistently even on the same category of products. 'For example, local and imported avocados are subject to different rates, creating confusion for both consumers and businesses,' he said. Meanwhile, tax enforcement actions are pressing forward despite the unclear guidelines and the current weak economic conditions. Yong said the first essential principle of any proper tax system is that rules must be clear enough for people and businesses to understand their obligations without confusion. 'A second foundational requirement is that tax rates be set at levels taxpayers can reasonably afford, especially in a fragile economy where many are already struggling. 'A third guiding tenet is that the Government's collection process must be simple and predictable, avoiding enforcement actions that punish those who genuinely wish to comply,' he added. Yong said the ongoing shifts in SST rules, e-invoicing deadlines, fuel subsidy adjustments and stamp duty regulations fail to meet these three core standards. 'This persistent uncertainty undermines trust, deters investment and deepens the hardship faced by struggling families and small enterprises.' * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
The Star
17-06-2025
- Business
- The Star
Put tax changes on hold, engage stakeholders to ensure clarity, urges former Sabah CM
KOTA KINABALU: The government should pause further tax changes and first engage with stakeholders to restore clarity, affordability, and ease of compliance, says a former Sabah chief minister. Datuk Seri Yong Teck Lee, who leads the Sabah Progressive Party, said recent policy shifts have confused both consumers and businesses. 'This is not just about paperwork. Harsh and unclear enforcement risks destroying small businesses and livelihoods,' he said in a statement Tuesday (June 17). Yong was referring to the recent government announcements involving the revised sales and service tax (SST) structure — which expanded SST coverage from 6% to 8% for certain services starting March 1 — as well as upcoming e-invoicing requirements, fuel subsidy rationalisation plans, and stamp duty adjustments. He said tax enforcement was pressing ahead despite unclear guidelines and fragile economic conditions. He outlined three key principles that should guide any tax system — clarity in rules, affordability of rates, and predictability in enforcement. 'People must be able to understand their obligations without confusion. Rates must be reasonable, especially when so many are already struggling. And enforcement must not punish those trying to comply,' he said. He added that the ongoing changes fail to meet these principles, undermining trust, deterring investment, and worsening hardship for families and small enterprises. Yong also called on the Inland Revenue Board (LHDN) to hold off on enforcing the new tax rules until proper procedures are in place and businesses are financially ready to comply.
Borneo Post
17-06-2025
- Business
- Borneo Post
Yong: Clarity and compassion needed in tax policy
Yong Teck Lee KOTA KINABALU (June 17): Former Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Yong Teck Lee said recent announcements on new taxes, suspensions and postponements of policies have left Malaysians and business owners, including himself, bewildered. He observed that the recently announced Sales and Service Tax (SST) is imposed inconsistently even on the same category of products. For example, local and imported avocados are subject to different rates, creating confusion for both consumers and businesses, he said in a statement on Tuesday. Meanwhile, tax enforcement actions are pressing forward despite the unclear guidelines and the current weak economic conditions. Yong said the first essential principle of any proper tax system is that rules must be clear enough for people and businesses to understand their obligations without confusion. A second foundational requirement is that tax rates be set at levels taxpayers can reasonably afford, especially in a fragile economy where many are already struggling. A third guiding tenet is that the government's collection process must be simple and predictable, avoiding enforcement actions that punish those who genuinely wish to comply. The ongoing shifts in SST rules, e-invoicing deadlines, fuel subsidy adjustments and stamp duty regulations fail to meet these three core standards, he pointed out. This persistent uncertainty undermines trust, deters investment and deepens the hardship faced by struggling families and small enterprises. 'We call on the government to pause further tax changes, engage meaningfully with stakeholders and restore clarity, affordability and ease of collection in order to stabilise the economy and rebuild public confidence,' said Yong. He also urged the Inland Revenue Board to desist from enforcement on the new taxes until rates and procedures are clarified, taxpayers can afford them and collection is effective rather than punitive, as harsh enforcement risks destroying businesses and livelihoods.
