SANDAKAN 17 March - The Goods and Services Tax (GST) system is considered more effective in terms of cost effectiveness and reduction of bureaucracy in the management of the nation’s tax administration system.
Assistant Minister of Local Government and Housing Datuk Zakaria Mohd Edris believes that the implementation of the GST will have a positive impact on the efficiency and competitiveness of the economy as the cost of doing business under the GST system is lower than the current tax system.
“This will provide an advantage to the business people to be more competitive, especially in export markets,” he said when officiating the GST and Consumer Awareness Programme organised by the Libaran Women and Family Development Council (MPWK) at Dewan Libaran here on Sunday.
Zakaria said GST would not burden the people as the proposed rate was six per cent, much lower than the 10 per cent of the Sales and Services Tax.“Don’t believe in the propaganda of certain quarters that the GSTwill burden the people. On the contrary, GST will reduce the people’s burden. Hopefully, this GST programme will make us better understand the GST and receptive of changes and development brought by the government for the future of the country, especially the people,” he added.
“As GST will be imposed from April 1, it is vital for the people to have a deeper understanding of the mechanisms of its implementation.“This is to prevent the GST issue to be exploited by certain quarters for their own benefit by attempting to influence and distort the people’s perception about GST. I believe that a responsible and caring government will not burden the low-income group with GST,” said Zakaria, who is also Gum Gum Assemblyman.
Representatives from the Royal Malaysian Customs Department and the Ministry of Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism gave talks at the programme which was attended by more than 100 participants.
Also present were the Chairman of the Libaran Women and Family Development Council cum Political Secretary to the Chief Minister Datuk Armani Mahiruddin and Gum Gum Community Development Leader Kamal M Said.
Source: www.newsabahtimes.com.my