REE Set To Boost Negeri Sembilan’s State Revenue From 2027 -- Aminuddin
SEREMBAN, Aug 4 (Bernama) -- The Negeri Sembilan state government expects rare earth elements (REE) to make a major contribution to state revenue starting in 2027, the Negeri Sembilan State Legislative Assembly was told today.
Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Aminuddin Harun said revenue collection through the two mineral tenement licenses that have been approved is estimated at RM18 million.
“The REE, which has been identified in several districts, including Kuala Pilah and Jelebu, is expected to make a major contribution to state revenue," he said during an oral question and answer session here today.
He was replying to a question from Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan (BN-Rantau), read by Kamarol Ridzuan Mohd Zain (PN-Paroi), about plans regarding new revenues or tax revisions that are more targeted and progressive to help the B40 group.
Meanwhile, Aminuddin said several other areas also have the potential to increase state revenue collection, including the transformation of water commodities and the introduction of service charges that lead to sustainability in the economy.
He said that the state government, via the quit rent amendment (PCT) and the parcel tax rates as per the National Land Code and the Strata Titles Act, every ten years, could increase quit rent revenue by RM400 million, with the target implementation by 2029.
Aminuddin said that to generate additional new revenue, the Forestry Department has received approval from the State Executive Council to charge a conservation fee for entry to selected Forest Eco Parks at a rate of RM3 for citizens and RM6 (non-citizens), with children, the elderly and people with disabilities being exempted from the fee.
“Areas with complete basic facilities, such as the Ulu Bendul Rimba Eco Park, as the location for the first phase, will precede the three phases of implementing the conservation fee.
“The implementation of this fee is expected not to burden the B40 group due to the low and reasonable fee rate, which is much cheaper than the cost of other commercial recreational activities and still within the means of most people,” he said.
He said the fee collection would also be channelled towards forest conservation activities and maintenance of public facilities at Forest Eco Park, thus giving a more positive impact to all parties with a safer and more comfortable environment when carrying out recreational activities in Negeri Sembilan.
He also said the state government is always committed to ensuring a fair, progressive and inclusive quit rent system to guarantee the well-being of the people, especially the underprivileged or those in need of support.
“The state government always ensures that the welfare of all groups of people is taken care of by providing various initiatives that can benefit the rakyat,” he said.
-- BERNAMA