Immediate enforcement to resolve GST issues, says
Muhyiddin Bernama
Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin today
directed the enforcement agencies to take immediate
action to tackle problems encountered in
implementing the goods and services tax (GST).
He said he had spoken to the Domestic Trade,
Cooperatives and Consumerism Minister Datuk Seri
Hasan Malek so that legal action and enforcement
could be carried out immediately.
"If it takes too long, the people will not see that
offenders are being prosecuted commensurately," he
told reporters after the nomination process for
candidates for the by-election for the Permatang
Pauh parliamentary constituency in Bukit Mertajam
today. |
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He said that problems in
implementing GST cropped up due to confusion as GST in
Malaysia involved three categories.
"The GST that we drew up has exemptions, some are
zero-rated and not imposed GST. There is no country in
the world that has GST like the one in Malaysia.
In Malaysia, we do it according to our own style. In
the more than 160 countries where GST is implemented,
there are no exemptions, everything is subjected to GST.
That is where we are special.
"The people don't
understand why some goods are subjected (to GST) while
others are not. (In addition) why should there be the
sales tax when the GST has been imposed. If in the past
10 + 5... now it is only 6%.
"I received complaints that some people impose 'over the
path sales tax' (exceeding the actual sales tax). This
is not right. The people should pay less but actually
have to pay more than necessary.
Muhyiddin said
that complaints on GST as well as the confusion that
arose should be given attention and clarified
continuously.
He said that GST was a bold move
by the government to create a new tax structure that was
most effective, the problems were only at the initial
stage, which had been expected.
"This (initial
implementation problem) was expected, to the extent
there is dissatisfaction, feeling of unhappiness. If the
feeling of dissatisfaction arises during the election
campaign, this worries us.
"But we have to face
it, we cannot retreat. This is a long-term decision that
will benefit the nation and also the people, with the
new tax structure.
It (revenue) goes into
government funds for the benefit of the people.
Muhyiddin said it was the responsibility of the Barisan
Nasional (BN) information machinery and the relevant
departments to explain to the people.
"Although
they are dissatisfied because they have to make payments
(GST), at least they understand, and (the government)
finds a way so that the implementation does not burden
(the people) in the long run. Such matters must be
explained." Bernama, April 25, 2015.
Source::
The Malaysian Insider , dated 25/04/2015......... |