KUALA LUMPUR – The Selangor government is set to review its policy on entertainment tax for live performances by local artists, said its menteri besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari today.
Amirudin said the tax – currently levied at 15% for local performers – will either be reduced to 5% or completely waived for the rest of 2022.
For performances featuring international acts, however, the current rate of 25% will be maintained.
The Sg Tua assemblyman says an announcement will be made by April 1, as he is awaiting a report on the “facts and figures” from the relevant exco member.
Amirudin also went on to explain that in 2001, the Dewan Rakyat decided on a 25% entertainment tax to be collected by state governments.
However, he claims the figure was later reduced to 15%, with Putrajaya promising to make up the difference.
“But in the end, ‘janji dicapati’ and nothing happened,” he said.
Earlier, the Selangor government was panned by a number of celebrities, including veteran singer Datuk Zainal Abidin, who accused Shah Alam of trying to “strangle” artists just as the industry reopened.
Meanwhile, the announcement drew mixed reactions from the performing arts fraternity.
Instant Cafe Theatre founder Jo Kukathas welcomed the news, calling it a great step, adding that she hopes the state will “consider abolishing it completely in order to support the arts”.
Comedian Kavin Jay said it was “a step forward” but also expressed concerns that it would only be a short-term solution. He urged the state government to support the arts and make it a long-term one.
Francis Teo, head of convention centres at SP Setia Bhd, urged Selangor to extend the waiver period to 2023, as he said large-scale events take at least three to six months to organise.
However, this sentiment was not shared by comedian Jason Leong, who said it would be a slap in the face if the tax was not waived.
He told The Vibes: “Abolish this stupid f**king tax.”
The announcement was also unsatisfactory for Rizal Kamal, founder of LOL Asia, a KL-based live performance producer and promoter.
Rizal questioned why anyone would choose to bring international artists to Selangor when neighbouring Kuala Lumpur did not charge the entertainment tax at all.
“Say goodbye to international shows in Selangor,” he told The Vibes. – The Vibes, March 18, 2022
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