Malaysia:Port users at Malaysia’s Port Klang’s will get a six-month reprieve as the government deferred the planned 15% tariff hike from September 1 this year to March 1, 2019.
The planned hike, which would have applied to the terminals operated by both Westports and MMC-owned Northport, was pushed back to give more time to port users and other industry players to adapt and stabilise businesses after the introduction of the Sales and Services Tax (SST) which was also set to be introduced on September 1, local media quoted Transport Minister Anthony Loke as saying.
“This deferment is a clear indication of the government’s commitment to ease the rakyat’s burden besides taking into consideration the impact of the SST implementation on September 1 this year,” he said.
A 15% hike was implemented in the first phase in 2015, while the next step up 15% increase was set to take effect on September 1, 2018.
The Port Klang Authority (PKA) said the staggered increase was to allow port users sufficient time to adjust their business costs along the supply chain.
