Media Statement By Chong Chieng Jen:
The DAP Sarawak State Committee has today met in Kuching and resolved that DAP Sarawak shall oppose the implementation of the proposed Inheritance Tax which is expected to be one of the 5 new proposed taxes to broaden the tax base and increase the Government’s revenue.
The recent disclosure by Utusan Malaysia that Inheritance Tax may be proposed in the coming Parliamentary budget sitting has caused grave concern amongst the many communities in Sarawak.
As such, when DAP Sarawak met today in Kuching, we have discussed the matter at length.
While we have reserved our decision on the other 4 new proposed taxes, namely, food tax, carbon pricing tax, high-value goods tax (HVGT) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) tax, the DAP Sarawak has unanimously resolved that DAP Sarawak will oppose the imposition of the proposed Inheritance Tax and should it be brought in Parliament, the 5 Members of Parliament from DAP Sarawak will vote against such a proposed bill.
It is the tradition and culture of Asian parents to leave something for their children and grandchildren. The parents or grand-parents have paid income tax in order that they are able to accumulate the wealth which is then passed on to their children or grandchildren, a house, some land or any other valuable assets.
To most Malaysian families, parents or grandparents and their children or grandchildren are seen as ONE family entity. Therefore, after paying tax to acquire the property, any Inheritance Tax imposed upon passing the property amongst the family members, is seen as a double taxation for the continued ownership of the property within the family. As such, to these families, Inheritance Tax is seen as a double taxation on a family and thus is most unjustified.
We will first resort to the internal avenue within the framework of the Unity Government system to state our objection.
However, if all such internal avenue of Unity Government fails and when push comes to shove, the 5 DAP Sarawak Members of Parliament will abide by the State Committee’s decision today in opposing the Bill in Parliament.
We hope our clear position today will help to stop the implementation of the proposed Inheritance Tax.
