Will departure levy exemptions be clearly defined for all travellers?

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Departure Levy Exemptions Under Consideration for Specific Groups

The Ministry of Finance is proposing exemptions from the departure levy for pilgrims and infants under 24 months old. While the current wording of the Departure Levy Bill is broad, the Finance Minister retains the discretion to grant exemptions. Suggestions have also been made to exempt foreign travellers in transit through Malaysian airports.
Proposed Exemptions for Pilgrims and Infants

Deputy Finance Minister Datuk Amiruddin Hamzah announced that his ministry intends to propose exemptions for pilgrims undertaking religious journeys and for babies below the age of 24 months. These specific groups are being considered for relief from the proposed departure levy, indicating a move towards refining the scope of the tax.
Discretionary Power for Exemptions

Despite the broad language within the Departure Levy Bill, which defines those subject to the levy as anyone leaving Malaysia "by any operator," the Finance Minister possesses the authority to implement exemptions. This discretionary power allows for adjustments to the levy's application beyond the general stipulations laid out in the Bill.
Consideration for Transit Passengers

Further suggestions have been put forth to exempt foreign travellers who are merely transiting through Malaysian airports. This proposal aims to ensure that individuals passing through Malaysia without entering the country as a final destination are not subject to the departure levy.
Ambiguity in Bill's Scope and Levy Rates

The Departure Levy Bill's Clause 9(1)(a) broadly states that any departure "by any operator" is subject to the levy, with "operators" encompassing any entity operating a vehicle for transporting departing persons. This definition could potentially extend to services beyond air travel, such as trains, cruise ships, and chartered vehicles. The Bill has not yet detailed the specific rates for the levy, although Budget 2019 had previously proposed RM20 for departures to ASEAN nations and RM40 for other countries.

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Will departure levy exemptions be clearly defined for all travellers?

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