Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng today clarified that the recently proposed departure levy will only be imposed on those travelling out of Malaysia by air, not land and sea routes.

This comes after parliamentarians' uproar on the proposed levy which may cover Johor-Singapore, Malaysia-Thailand and Sarawak-Brunei cross-border travels.

"No, it is (by) air only. Nothing related to roads or ports, only air travel heading out of Malaysia," Lim told reporters in Kuala Lumpur today after launching the SME Awards 2018.

He added that final touches to the proposed levy are still being made and ther government is in no rush to implement it.

"I think maybe after Hari Raya Haji, then we will impose," he said.

Pressed on whether the levy would apply for those going to perform Haji or Umrah (Muslim religious pilgrimages), Lim said they would receive a one-time exemption.

“For the first Haji or Umrah pilgrimage, they need not pay. We will announce the formula...(but the exemption will be) one time only.

"If there are more pilgrimages, then it's different. You won't go Umrah every time. That's different.

"For non-Muslim, you can enjoy one-time exemption. Muslims get one more because of Umrah. 

"Some say those who use private jets can be exempted. No. They will be charged," he said.

This morning, lawmakers from both sides of the divide called on Putrajaya to refine the Departure Levy Bill 2019, which if passed, would impact any person who leaves the country.

The Departure Levy Bill, which was tabled for first reading yesterday, allows the government to appoint agents to collect a departure levy from anyone who leaves Malaysia.

The bill was opened for debate at the policy stage for an hour today. The debate will continue tomorrow.

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