Categories
Cuisine in Melaka

HERITAGE TAX FOR MELAKA HOTELS

AP File Photo(AP File Photo)

Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam explained that the tax was necessary to fund the upkeep and promotion of heritage sites as

well as the state’s

beautification programmes.

He said revenues from

assessment tax and Quit rent collection

were insufficient for this.

“The heritage charge will be based on

the rental rates of hotels, resorts,

chalets, apartments and other

tourism facilities that provide lodging,”

the Chief Minister said, asserting that the heritage

fee was expected to bring in around RM12 million per year.


The Malacca Budget Hotels Association, however, protested the move,

arguing that the total 21% charge was just too much

(6% government tax + 10% service charge + 5% heritage charge).

Categories
Cuisine in Melaka

GIANT ANGSANA TREES DELIBERATELY CUT DOWN

MALACCA: Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam is upset over the felling of five giant angsana and malacca trees within the buffer zone of the Unesco World Heritage Site here.

The trees that had stood for hundreds of years along Jalan Merdeka and Jalan Parameswara, near Equatorial Hotel here, were cut down by a private contractor carrying out a multi-storey hotel pro­ject.

The trees were tagged as rare species in 1996.

Mohd Ali asked the Malacca Historical City Council (MBMB) to haul the contractor to court at once.

“I don’t know who gave them the authority to chop down the trees. I want the contractor to be punished.

“Even the trimming of trees and ornamental plants in this state can only be carried out after permission is granted by the local council.

“In this case, ancient and precious trees were felled. I also want the contractor to be blacklisted and not awarded construction jobs in Malacca.

“This will serve as a lesson to others,” Mohd Ali said here yesterday.

He said he had asked mayor Datuk Zainal Abu to issue reminders to other contractors not to lay their hands on any tree considered part of Malacca’s heritage.

“I am really upset and am not going to let the matter rest,” he said.

The state government has also asked its legal adviser to use existing laws to effect maximum penalties on the contractor.

MBMB councillor Mohd Yusof Abu Hassan said the trees were inside the buffer zone gazetted by Unesco on July 7, 2008.

He said the contractor had no approval to cut down the trees and the council would initiate legal action under the Urban and Town Development Act 1972.

Categories
Cuisine in Melaka

MELAKA HERITAGE TAX FROM 1ST SEPTEMBER 2011

MALACCA: Malacca will impose a 5% “heritage charge” on hotel guests from Sept 1.

Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam said the decision to impose the new tax on hotel rooms was reached at the weekly state executive council meeting yesterday. There are 193 hotels and resorts in the state.

The tax was crucial for the state to carry out its beautification programmes as well as to maintain cleanliness, conservation and promotion of heritage sites, he said.

“The state has no source of tax collection for the maintenance of heritage sites. The assessment tax and quit rent collected in the city are insufficient to upkeep these sites.

“Hence, it is necessary to make the heritage fee compulsory.

“The heritage charge will be based on the rental rates of hotels, resorts, chalets, apartments and other tourism facilities that provide lodging,” he said.

Mohd Ali said about RM12mil was expected to be collected annually.

Asked if the ruling would have a negative effect on tourism in the state, Mohd Ali claimed that it would offer better prospects for growth to the industry.

However, Malacca Budget Hotels Association chairman Hendon Putehbegged to differ, saying the total 21% charge was too high.

“Most of our members are already charging their guests the 6% government tax, with some charging another 10% service charge.

Hang Out Hotel manager and State Tourism Association committee member Tan Lee Lee also questioned the need to impose such a charge, especially after the Tourism Ministry had said that more than 70% of its allocation would be channelled to Malacca under the 10th Malaysia Plan.

Categories
Cuisine in Melaka

MELAKA TARGETS 11 MILLION VISITORS IN 2011

Tourism Melaka is doing our first survey on the tourism products and services in Melaka.

Please take some time to participate in this survey. You can be rewarded with a Day tour from Kuala Lumpur to Melaka by Tourism Melaka.

Click here to participate in our first Tourism Melaka survey.

VIEW MELAKA AT A GLANCE (2004)

Categories
Cuisine in Melaka

UPGRADE MAINTENANCE OF HISTORICAL SITES

Tourism Melaka is doing our first survey on the tourism products and services in Melaka.

Please take some time to participate in this survey. You can be rewarded with a Day tour from Kuala Lumpur to Melaka by Tourism Melaka.

Click here to participate in our first Tourism Melaka survey.

VIEW MELAKA AT A GLANCE (2004)