KUALA LUMPUR : all travellers flying out of Malaysia will have to pay a departure tax of between RM8 and RM150 (S$2.65 and S$50), Malaysian media reported on Friday (Aug 2).
The Malay Mail Online website reported that the departure levy rates were set out by Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng in a ministerial order gazetted by the Malaysian government on July 31. A separate order, also dated July 31, said the departure levy will be imposed from Sept 1.
The levy imposed on travellers will depend on the destination and the class of airline flights.
Passengers travelling to countries in Asean and flying economy class will face a departure levy of RM8. Passengers flying on all other airline classes to the region will have to pay RM50.
The 10 countries in Asean include Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, the Philippines, Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia and Brunei.
Passengers travelling out of Malaysia to non-Asean countries on economy flights will have to pay a departure levy of RM20, while those travelling on non-economy flights will be charged RM150.
Cabin crew, infants and toddlers aged below 24 months or two years as well as airline passengers transiting in Malaysia and leaving the country within 12 hours will be exempted from the levy, according to a separate order issued by Mr Lim.