The spat between Tourism and Culture Minister Nazri Abdul Aziz and Sarawak Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Minister Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah will not sour relations between the federal government and the East Malaysian states, a minister says.

While reiterating that Nazri could have been more tactful, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Abdul Rahman Dahlan went on to dismiss the episode as a one-off spat.

“Not at all. It’s just one of those little brother-big brother spats,” Rahman, who is also the MP for Kota Belud, Sabah, said of the row over the tourism tax.

“He (Nazri) will be smiling and will embrace Karim, but I don't know. I'm saying that I think he went a little bit overboard in explaining this to the public.

“I think it could have been done in a more tactful manner,” he added when asked what he thought would happen next.

Rahman, who heads the Economic Planning Unit, was speaking to reporters in Kuala Lumpur after attending the launch of the World Bank's Malaysia Economic Monitor report for the second half of 2017.

The Royal Customs Department had announced that the tourism tax would be implemented on Aug 1, but the statement was later retracted while Nazri announced that it would be implemented on July 1 instead.

The new tax ranges from RM2.50 per room per night to RM20 per room per night, depending on the rating of the hotel. It applies to both foreign and local travellers.

Karim had urged not to rush on the implementation, and at least defer it in Sabah and Sarawak.

However, his call earned him a drubbing from Nazri, who pointed out that tourism is under federal jurisdiction and dismissed him as a political greenhorn.

“You should not talk big in politics. If you want to show samseng (thuggery), we are bigger samseng.

“I won't let him be samseng like that; I have been a minister for a long time. He could have met me and asked me first if he didn't understand.

“Don't be a samseng when you are a new minister. If you want to learn to be a samseng, you can learn from me," he said.

Nazri’s statements had been condemned by Sarawak BN Youth, and the state had since withdrawn its representative from Tourism Malaysia.

'Tourism tax is a good policy'

Meanwhile, Rahman argued that the tourism tax is a good policy because it broadens Malaysia’s tax base and would give the tourism industry a boost since the industry had been seeing budget cuts amid falling government revenue.

“I personally believe and as an economy minister, it's a good tax and it's not so burdensome. It is a very small amount and I think the ministry is willing to share it with the state governments in the form of more contribution.

“I believe the tax isn't going to go into the consolidated accounts. I believe it will be used directly by the Ministry of Tourism,” he said.

He added that Karim had merely wanted to defer the implementation pending clarification, but Nazri’s response could have been better.

“You know Chief. Chief has always been very vocal person but I think at times, as I mentioned on my Twitter, ministers should be more… It’s okay people want to complain or want to raise issues. At the federal level, we need to listen more.

“We cannot be answering queries whether you are anak jantan ke tidak (a man or not). But I know Chief Nazri, that's the problem. I know he's good-hearted but I think he should learn that there are certain things that... he's been talking about this jantan-betina for so long already, so I think we need to move on.

He has a special relationship with all of us, but I think the articulation can be done better,” he said.