Monday, July 28, 2008

MONDAY-28 JULY 2008- KL TO MAKE ANNOUNCEMENT ON LEVY ISSUE: LIEW

KL to make announcement on levy issue: Liew

PENAMPANG:

The -Federal Government will be making an announcement on the issue of the levy for foreign workers, Deputy International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk VK Liew said yesterday. The Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) President and Sandakan Member of Parliament said this when asked to comment on the request from several barters, including the Sabah Chinese Chamber of Commerce (SCCC) and Federation Sabah Manufacturers (FSM) to reduce the heavy levy as it is burdening employers in the State. Both the SCCC and FSM have said that the high levy is one of the reasons many foreigners are in the State illegally. A reduction of the levy would encourage employers to properly document and register their workers, they said. Liew who is also the LDP Kapayan Divisional Chief when met at its annual general meeting here yesterday, said the issue of levy was discussed extensively in the recent Barisan Nasional (BN) meeting. “A proper announcement will be made very soon about this issue of levy that has i affected the plantation industry as well as the construction industry. “These are the main concerns of the committee that sat recently to discuss the massive operation against illegal immigrants that will be carried out very soon,” he said, adding that the high-powered committee set up to address the perennial problem with illegal immigrants in Sabah chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak had also looked into the issue. When asked for his opinion as LDP President on the issue, Liew replied, “the issue on the levy as I have said, had been discussed by the Federal Government. We have already given our opinions on the matter.”