Palm oil, petroleum products drive Sabah’s RM1.387 bln State Sales Tax collection in H1 2026
Borneo Post Online (21/07/2026) - KOTA KINABALU (July 21): Sabah collected RM1.387 billion in State Sales Tax (SST) from key sectors, mainly crude palm oil and petroleum products, in the first half of 2026.
State Assistant Finance Minister Datuk Ben Chong (GRS-Tanjung Kapor), in reply to a question from Datuk Donald Peter Mojuntin (GRS-Moyog) at the State Legislative Assembly, said the collection from major sectors stood at RM1.387 billion as of June 30.
He said crude palm oil, including palm biomass products, contributed the largest share at RM703.55 million, followed by petroleum products at RM679.45 million.
“The fisheries commodities sector involving products exported out of Sabah also contributed to the collection,” he said, adding that the forestry sector was currently not subject to SST.
Meanwhile, the Sabah government has allocated and spent RM108.05 million on youth development programmes since 2020, with their effectiveness measured through business performance, income growth and socio-economic impact.
State Assistant Youth, Sports and Creative Economy Minister Datuk Seri Anil Jeet Singh (BN-Kunak), in reply to a question from Justin Wong Yung Bin (Warisan-Sri Tanjong), said the allocation was channelled towards various youth development initiatives.
He said the ministry assessed the impact of these programmes through several indicators, including improvements in sales and income among recipients, benefits to target groups and local communities, job opportunities created, as well as wider social and economic outcomes.