KUANTAN: The Pahang government has never considered offering a licence for the operation of a casino in Pulau Tioman, Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail said today.
“The idea to offer a licence to operate a casino in Pulau Tioman has not even crossed our minds,“ he told the state legislative assembly sitting.
Wan Rosdy was replying to a supplementary question from Sim Chon Siang (PKR-Teruntum) who wanted to know whether the state government intended to provide the licence following talk that an airport will be built in Mersing, Johor.
Mersing on the peninsular mainland is used by ferries travelling to Pulau Tioman. The other place is Tanjung Gemok in Rompin, Pahang.
Wan Rosdy said a meeting of the East Coast Economic Region (ECER) management committee had decided not to build the airport in Mersing. The ECER covers Kelantan, Terengganu, Pahang and the Mersing district in Johor.
When replying to a question from Lee Chean Chung (PKR-Semambu), Wan Rosdy said Genting Highlands and Bukit Tinggi contributed RM49 million in taxes to the state government between January and October this year.
“These taxes included the assessment rates collected by the Bentong Municipal Council, amounting to RM35 million from Genting Malaysia Berhad and RM700,000 from Bukit Tinggi Resort.
“About RM2.18 million was derived from entertainment tax. The proceeds from the entertainment tax are channelled to the consolidated revenue account,“ he said.
Wan Rosdy said the entertainment tax is collected in accordance with the Entertainment Duty Act 1953 under the jurisdiction of the federal government. — Bernama
