A DEPARTURE levy ranging from RM8 to RM150 will be imposed on travellers flying out of Malaysia starting September 1.

The matter is stated in a ministerial order that was gazetted by the federal government on Wednesday.

A levy of RM8 will be imposed on economy-class passengers heading to Asean countries. Those travelling in other classes will be charged RM50.

Economy-class passengers heading to non-Asean countries will be charged RM20, while a fee of RM150 will be imposed on business- and first-class travellers.

The levy will not be imposed on toddlers aged below 24 months.

Also exempted are passengers transiting via Malaysia, with a transit period of not more than 12 hours.

Crew members on board aircraft and vessels, anyone driving or riding vehicles for personal use, as well as pillion riders of such vehicles need not pay the levy, too.

The Malaysian Insight previously reported that the departure levy would be implemented on September 1.

The rates stated in the gazetted order are the same as those mentioned by sources two months ago.

The sources had said the Finance Ministry would collect the levy via airlines, which would include the amount in the final airfare.

The ministry had said the government collected RM135.5 million in tourism tax last year, and expected to rake in 10 times the amount with the levy.

Malaysia sees an estimated 30 million air-passenger departures annually, with 13 million headed to Asean nations.

Industry players had told The Malaysian Insight that it was “not the right economic climate” to introduce such a levy.

Industries worldwide were investing in green technology, and the levy would just compound their burden, they had said, adding that it might also negatively impact arrivals for Visit Malaysia Year 2020.

The Departure Levy Bill 2019 was passed earlier this year. Under the act, anyone who fails to pay the levy, where applicable, faces a fine of up to RM500,000, imprisonment of up to three years, or both.

When tabling Budget 2019 on November 2 last year, Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng had said the departure levy was intended to encourage domestic tourism, and noted that the proposed rates of RM20 for Asean destinations and RM40 for non-Asean countries were consistent with the amount charged by other nations, such as Thailand (US$20, or RM83), Hong Kong (US$15) and Japan (US$10). – August 2, 2019.