logo
Banking on tax to move beyond oil

Banking on tax to move beyond oil

The Star21-07-2025
A file photo of Muscat, the capital of Oman, from March 24, 2023. Officials said a new tax there would affect only a small portion of the population but would help reduce the country's dependence on oil and gas. — Andrea DiCenzo/The New York Times
THE concept of an income tax has long created debate and anxiety among the citizens of the fossil fuel-rich countries in the Persian Gulf.
But no nation actually introduced one until last month, when Oman announced that it would apply a 5% tax starting from 2028 on those who make more than 42,000 Omani riyals (RM462,088).
Cancel anytime. Ad-free. Full access to Web and App.
RM 13.90/month
RM 9.73 /month
Billed as RM 9.73 for the 1st month, RM 13.90 thereafter.
RM 12.39/month
RM 8.63 /month
Billed as RM 103.60 for the 1st year, RM 148 thereafter.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Grab fares topping S$1,000 stun Singapore ride-hailing users
Grab fares topping S$1,000 stun Singapore ride-hailing users

The Star

time4 hours ago

  • The Star

Grab fares topping S$1,000 stun Singapore ride-hailing users

Grab Holdings Ltd's ride-hailing app showed fares in the hundreds or thousands of dollars briefly early afternoon in its home base of Singapore, with users in neighbouring Malaysia also reporting similar increases. — AZHAR MAHFOF/The Star Singapore ride-hailing users got a rude shock on Aug 20 after prices on the most popular app jumped about a hundred times from the usual rates, with short trips within the city costing S$1,000 (RM 3,286) or more. Grab Holdings Ltd's ride-hailing app showed fares in the hundreds or thousands of dollars briefly early afternoon in its home base of Singapore, with users in neighbouring Malaysia also reporting similar increases. A Grab spokesperson attributed the elevated rates to a temporary display glitch. Fares went back to normal as of about 12.20pm Singapore time. Grab, which is backed by Uber Technologies Inc, is the leading ride provider in its home market and countries including Malaysia and Thailand. Uber left the region in 2018 in exchange for a stake in Grab, which is now locked in fierce competition against Indonesia's GoTo Group and other smaller rivals. "We encountered a temporary system issue that led to abnormally high prices being wrongly displayed in our app,' Grab said in a statement. "The issue has been resolved, and the app is now functioning as usual. We deeply regret the inconvenience caused.' – Bloomberg

Abandoned hotel finally coming down
Abandoned hotel finally coming down

Daily Express

time11 hours ago

  • Daily Express

Abandoned hotel finally coming down

Published on: Wednesday, August 20, 2025 Published on: Wed, Aug 20, 2025 By: Sohan Das Text Size: Labuan Hotel will be demolished within eight months. LABUAN: Demolition of the spooky 11-storey Hotel Labuan that has been abandoned since 1997 has finally begun. A signage at the site showed the main contractor for as Zefhill (M) Sdn Bhd and knockdown including site levelling would be completed by March 23, 2026, within eight months. Advertisement The company is said to be registered in Perlis and listed as General Contractors, Business of Planters and General Merchants. The hotel with 150 rooms squats in the heart of town but was an eyesore the past 28 years, often criticised as projecting a negative image of Labuan as a financial centre. The demolition was called by Labuan Corporation (LC) on March 19, 2025, from contractors who were registered and qualified with an indicative value of RM 5.4 million. When the tender closed on April 30, 2025, more than 10 companies from various states including here, Sabah and Sarawak submitted bids. The hotel built in the 1980s was once an iconic landmark of the island and holds memories for many. It was the main venue for all important social and other functions such weddings, etc. For 15 years business was booming with 250-odd workers under its payroll. It was closed by the Labuan Development Authority citing structural safety concerns on Nov 19, 1997, a matter which was disputed. The property was the family-owned business of former Sabah Chief Minister Tan Sri Harris Salleh who ironically, was instrumental in the widely criticised handing over of Labuan to the Federal Government to be a Federal Territory in 1984. Not satisfied with the LDA decision and took the matter to court. The matter was said to have been settled out of court with Harris' family compensated RM30 million and the property going under Federal ownership.

Avangaad anchors 2Q FY2025 growth on long-term contracts; charter fleet at sustained high utilisation
Avangaad anchors 2Q FY2025 growth on long-term contracts; charter fleet at sustained high utilisation

Focus Malaysia

timea day ago

  • Focus Malaysia

Avangaad anchors 2Q FY2025 growth on long-term contracts; charter fleet at sustained high utilisation

MAIN Market-listed Avangaad Bhd [formerly E.A. Technique (M) Bhd] has locked in significant multi-year charter wins in its Marine Service Vessels Group (fast crew boats and tugboats) as evident in its 2Q FY2025 financial results ended June 30, 2025. Now a marine COP (coordinator, operator and partner) player, the group raked in RM66.8 mil of contracts from Northport (M) Bhd in addition to other multi-year fast crew boat (FCB) charters. Aside from having secured near-term revenues, Avangaad has also expanded its long-term service footprint across Malaysia's key ports. For its 2Q FY2025, Avangaad posted a 5.4% % revenue growth to RM32,.27 mil (2Q FY2024: RM30.6 mil) while its 1H FY2025 revenue was flat at RM62.25 mil (1H FY2024: RM 61.81 mil) on the back of higher vessel utilisation and improved charter rates for fast crew boat contracts. Apart from new contracts totalling RM66.8 mil, the group has secured three fast crew boat (FCB) contracts worth RM29.2 mil during the six-month period. These include a two-year extension for three existing harbour tugboats and a new five-year daily charter for three harbour tugboats. The solid pipeline reflects the group's proactive approach and proven capability in securing earning opportunities. Its disciplined strategy ensures cash flow visibility and underpins growth certainty. Lucrative order book Looking ahead, Avangaad's management is executing a three-phase growth plan to demonstrate its prioritisation in delivering operational efficiencies, cost management and selective contract wins to reinforce the group's strategic presence as a trusted partner in both the oil & gas (O&G) and non-O&G segments. 'Currently in Phase 1, we're focusing on fortifying our position through new and renewed contracts alongside increased fleet utilisation while tightening cost management to maintain uncompromised operational efficiency,' revealed Avangaad's executive director Datuk Wira Mubarak Hussain Akhtar Husin. 'As we move into Phase 2 which is already in progress, we're set to expand and diversify by growing our fleet size and asset types, deepening port presence across Malaysia, and maintaining balanced earnings mix across O&G, non-O&G and marine logistics.' Added Mubarak: 'Moving forward, we shall regionalise and modernise under Phase 3 by entering selected ASEAN markets through both existing and new strategic partnerships. 'We also anticipate growth through fleet modernisation. This positions Avangaad as a key industry player in leading the transformation of marine sector, delivering integrated and sustainable solutions while advancing a clear decarbonisation transition plan.' Thus far, a record RM437.7 mil order book (firm order: RM177.6 mil, optional contract extensions: RM260.1 mil) underscores the confidence clients place in the group's role as the Marine COP backed by its unique 4Ps business model of 'Port, People, Product, Platform'. 'With a blend of renewals and new long-term agreements across both O&G and non-O&G sectors, Avangaad is building earnings visibility, cash flow stability and a clear pathway for sustainable growth in the marine logistics industry,' added Mubarak. At the close of today's (Aug 19) market trading, Avangaad was unchanged at 29 sen with 3.61 million shares traded, thus valuing the company at RM385 mil. – Aug 19, 2025

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store