Shoppers fill supermarkets ahead of GST –
Bernama
With just a few days to go before the goods and services
tax (GST) is implemented on April 1, shoppers in Kuala
Lumpur are busy this weekend stocking up on necessities.
A Bernama survey found there was unusual traffic
congestion in the city, including Bukit Bintang and
Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman, as well as large crowds
thronging several shopping complexes.
The survey
also found that stocks of several necessities such as
milk powder, sanitary pads, toilet paper and washing
powder at some supermarkets had finished due to high
demand.
Ewe Cheung Chung, 21, a sales executive at one of the
supermarkets said the management had to re-stock the
racks at the supermarket every two hours to cater to
demand. |
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"In the past few days, we ran out of stock for several
necessities and food, especially cocoa drinks, biscuits
and toilet paper because they were selling fast.
"Most of the patrons told me that they were preparing to
face GST, so they were buying in bulk," he said.
Ewe said the supermarket had prepared new labels for
certain products a month ago, and they would be
displayed on the racks, beginning this Wednesday.
"We have also prepared a list of items that would and
would not be charged GST for the convenience of
customers. However, it will only be displayed from April
1," he added.
Meanwhile, private sector employee Chong Meng Mei, 34,
said she had to queue up in long lines at supermarket
payment counters in the past few days because it was
full of customers buying items in bulk.
"I had to queue up for almost an hour before it was my
turn to pay because many customers were pushing trolleys
full of necessities, with some even paying for three
trolleys full.
"To avoid the crush of crowd at the supermarket, I had
re-stocked on necessary items like canned food and
washing powder at other supermarkets since a week ago,
worth about RM500," she said.
A clerk, Chan Poh Ling, 43, was of the opinion that the
price hike due to GST was only temporary because she was
confident the government would make re-adjustments after
that.
"For example, necessary items like baby diapers and
sanitary pads, maybe now they will be a little expensive
after the implementation of GST but after that, perhaps
the government will make price adjustments after taking
into consideration public feedback on GST," she said.
Operations staff Suhaiza Othman, 50, said she had made a
checklist of things to buy, including those that would
be charged with GST, and had started slowly stocking up
on the items in the past few days.
"Everyone should start planning financially, especially
when GST is implemented because GST can make us aware of
spending more wisely," she added.
The
implementation of GST at the rate of 6% from April 1 is
set to replace the 16% sales and services tax. –
Bernama, March 29, 2015.
Source:
The Malaysian Insider
, dated
29/03/2015 |