Selangor Umno wants to strengthen the National Consensus with PAS

Selangor Umno wants to strengthen Muafakat Nasional (MN) with PAS in the state, in facing the 15th General Election (GE15).

State Umno Liaison Committee chairman Tan Sri Noh Omar said the two parties needed to work together and not clash with each other during GE15, to snatch Selangor from Pakatan Harapan (PH).

“Don't clash if this happens, I am worried that others will win in Selangor, because the breakdown of Malay and non -Malay voters in this state is almost the same. Avoid contesting three corners.

“One of the reasons (Umno) faced many unexpected defeats (last GE14) is because of that factor. 

"Malay voters in particular are divided into three," he told reporters after officiating the Tanjong Karang Division Wanita Umno delegates meeting today.

Noh said he had stated the matter to PAS President Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang earlier this year.

In Negeri Sembilan, the same tone was voiced by Jelebu Umno Division Head Datuk Seri Jalaluddin Alias ​​who wanted MN to be strengthened to face GE15, as the success of the Umno and PAS combination has been proven with seven victories in the previous by -election.

"MN needs to be strengthened to face GE15 unless there are some areas where there is no meeting point between Umno and PAS, that needs to be handed over to the leadership to reach a consensus," he said after officiating the Jelebu Umno Division meeting and the party's three wings today. this.

In the meantime, he who is also a Member of the Umno Supreme Council also suggested that the party election for the term 2021-2023 be held earlier, to prepare the party to face GE15.

In Johor, the Tebrau Umno Youth Division proposed that the position of Central Umno Youth Chief be held by individuals under the age of 40, following the automatic registration of voters aged 18 and above has been gazetted and will take effect on Dec 15.

Its Youth chief Fauzi Faizal said the motion was seen as important, for the rebranding and 'rejuvenation' of the party, thus attracting young people to vote for Umno in the next GE15.

The Wanita, Youth and Puteri Umno Divisional Delegates Meeting took place for two days starting today before being followed by the Divisional Umno Delegates Meeting on Dec 18.

The Umno General Assembly 2021 is scheduled to be held for three days starting Jan 13 next year.

S'gor entertainment excise: Actually decreased from 25% to 15%

The Selangor government explained that the implementation of the entertainment tax of 15 percent imposed on ticketed performances is actually a decrease from the original rate.

Selangor Rural Development and Culture Exco Borhan Aman Shah explained that the implementation of the tax was misrepresented so that the state government was seen as imposing a new tax.

“The correct thing is, the state government has reduced the paid performance tax from 25 per cent to 15 per cent, while the theme park tax to 5 per cent compared to the previous 25 per cent.

"What is being done is to express the solidarity of the state government with the fate that befell the arts entrepreneurs," he told Malaysiakini yesterday.

Recently, there was dissatisfaction from some quarters following the state government's announcement to impose a tax of 15 percent.

It prompted art activists to launch a memorandum to express their protest against Selangor Menteri Besar Amirudin Shari

According to the memorandum, the state of the art industry is now worse after two years of not being able to carry out activities as usual when the country implemented the movement control order (PKP) due to Covid-19.

On December 8, while debating in the Selangor State Assembly, Amirudin said the state government lost more than RM50 million due to the absence of entertainment tax.

He gave an example of how cinemas that were not allowed to operate during the PKP were implemented to the detriment of state government revenue.

"The reduction will affect the state's progress and revenue," he was quoted as saying by Bernama when winding up the proposed Development Allocation Budget 2022.

Borhan said any performance that charged tickets or paid for it was subject to entertainment tax at a rate of 25 per cent and it was implemented so in all states.

"However, remembering the fate of all the arts are affected by Covid-19, especially industrial performances and entertainment that barely able to operate, the state government exclude ( waive ) entertainment tax of 25 percent is, limited to theme park only for the year 2021, ”said the Tanjung Sepat Assemblyman.