SARAWAK tourism minister Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said he would not be “cowed” by the disparaging remarks from his federal counterpart, regarding the former’s call to defer the tourism tax.

“Thank you for your support guys. I will not be cowed by the arrogant and uncouth response from this minister,” Karim said in a message to journalists on WhatsApp.

“I believe I am right in asking for deferment on (the) enforcement of this tourism tax, which has been bulldozed without consultation with our beloved state.”

On Friday, Karim said Putrajaya did not consult the state government on the tourism tax, which will be enforced on July 1 and called for its deferment.

Yesterday, Tourism and Culture Minister Nazri Abdul Aziz chided Karim for opposing the tax.

Nazri called Karim “setahun jagung” (political greenhorn) and said the latter should not act like a “samseng” (gangster).

State leaders today condemned Nazri’s comments.

When contacted today, Karim said he was encouraged by the public support.

“It’s encouraging, but it’s not a question of seeking popularity. A lot of people are upset about this,” he told The Malaysian Insight. 

“It’s not good for a senior minister to call a colleague that, especially now that it’s Ramadan. 

“I was just saying my piece on the need for consultation with the state government and that the matter goes against the Malaysia Agreement 1963. I didn’t expect an outburst,” said the Asajaya assemblyman. 

When asked about the opposition’s criticism that Sarawakian MPs were silent in Parliament and in the federal cabinet regarding the tax, Karim replied with a Malay proverb. 

“Jangan menangguk di air yang keruh. DAP should not take advantage of what’s going on as it has nothing to do with them. This is a family matter and we will resolve it (before) Raya. I hope he (Nazri) doesn’t hold any grudge against me.

“If the criticism is from Sarawak DAP, they have to ask where were they or what were they doing when the bill was tabled in Parliament. Did they speak up? If they didn’t, don’t start telling us that we did not do our service for Sarawak.”

The tourism tax bill was tabled in Parliament during a marathon session on April 5. It was the last of six bills passed in that record-setting 20-hour session and was tabled by Nazri around 5am. 

All hotel accommodations nationwide will each be charged between RM2.50 and RM20 daily under the new tax. The government said it stands to gain RM655 million. – June 12, 2017.