Bankrupts should be given a second chance - FOMCA

ARKIB : 22/10/2010

PETALING JAYA Oct 21 — The Federation of Malaysian Consumers Association (Fomca) fully supports the government’s move to give bankrupts a second chance to redeem themselves.

Its secretary-general, Muhammad Shaani Abdullah said this was in view of the fact that more young people were being declared bankrupts and they needed to be “salvaged” rather than being condemned for rest of their lives.

He was commenting on the announcement by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, in the 2011 budget that the government would assist such bankrupts.

He said the major reason for them to be declared bankrupt was because they over spent using their credit cards.

Perhaps, the government should introduce “money management studies” in schools to teach young children how to manage their funds,” he said.

Muhammad Shaani said adults should also be careful in spending and should not be tempted by offers from companies and avoid unnecessary purchases.

He suggested that institutions of higher learning should also emphasise on soft skills like communications, conflict management, self motivation, time management and leadership to prepare their students for the “real world” He said Fomca was disappointed that the budget did not spell out the measures for a social safety net for consumers in view of the reduction in subsidies and the proposed Goods and Services Tax (GST).

He also suggested that the poor and the marginalized should be protected by providing them food stamps and special subsidies for housing, education, transportation and health services.

Muhammad Shaani said the government should also strive to reduce the toll from all highways as it was a burden to consumers.

While Fomca was happy that the government recognized the role played by Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), he said it nevertheless was disappointed that consumer bodies were not given their due cognizance as they played a vital role in educating and helping consumers to make the right choices.

BERNAMA

Artikel Penuh: http://www.utusan.com.my/utusan/info.asp?y=2010&dt=1022&pub=themessenger&sec=Home_News&pg=hn_01.htm#ixzz2WdMZYJFt
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Persediaan awal pelaksanaan GST

ARKIB : 20/10/2010

Oleh AHMAD FADZIL ZAINOL ARIFFIN
bisnes@utusan.com.my

KUALA LUMPUR 19 Okt. – Peningkatan cukai perkhidmatan daripada lima kepada enam peratus dilihat sebagai persediaan awal kerajaan sebelum melaksanakan Cukai Barang dan Perkhidmatan (GST).

Pengarah Eksekutif Baker Tilly Monteiro Heng Tax Services Sdn. Bhd., Chan Kee Hoong berkata, pendekatan tersebut dilakukan supaya rakyat tidak berasa asing setelah GST dilaksanakan kelak memandangkan sistem cukai tersebut bakal menyaksikan peningkatan harga beberapa jenis barangan.

Menurutnya, pendekatan seumpama itu turut dipraktikkan negara lain apabila mahu menggantikan sistem cukainya kepada GST.

“Ia merupakan satu langkah bijak oleh kerjaan. Tetapi apa yang agak membantutkan pelaksanaannya adalah persediaan rakyat untuk menghadapinya.

“Kerajaan seharusnya kerap menerangkan kepada rakyat mengenai GST melalui seminar, hebahan media serta pengedaran risalah informasi agar mereka lebih memahaminya” katanya kepada Utusan Malaysia di sini hari ini.

Semasa pembentangan Bajet 2011, Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak telah mengumumkan cukai perkhidmatan ke atas semua perkhidmatan yang dikenakan cukai sebelum ini meningkat kepada enam peratus berbanding lima peratus pada masa ini.

Kata Kee Hong, peningkatan cukai sebanyak satu peratus itu mendatangkan pendapatan kira-kira RM600 juta kepada kerajaan.

Walaupun pelaksanaan GST ditangguhkan, tetapi beliau yakin GST akan tetap dilaksanakan satu hari nanti.

Tambahnya, cadangan pelaksanaan GST pada kadar empat peratus adalah munasabah kerana ia bermula pada paras yang rendah, tambahan pula ia baru diperkenalkan.

“Seperti Singapura, pada awal pelaksanaan GST di negara itu, kadarnya adalah tiga peratus dan ketika ini menjadi tujuh peratus. Bagaimanapun ia mengambil masa panjang bagi peningkatan itu berlaku.” ujarnya.

Berdasarkan pengalaman beberapa negara lain, beliau tidak menafikan harga sesetengah barangan akan meningkat melalui pelaksanaan GST dan ia memakan masa kepada rakyat untuk mengadaptasi perubahan tersebut.

“Saya mencadangkan setelah GST dilaksanakan, cukai-cukai lain seperti cukai pendapatan, cukai individu dan cukai korporat dikurangkan bagi mengimbangi bebanan rakyat,” katanya.

Pada masa sama, beliau menjangkakan barangan keperluan harian seperti beras dan tepung masih dikawal sekalipun GST dilaksanakan.

Kee Hoong turut memuji pengurangan duti import ke atas kira-kira 300 barangan kegemaran pelancong dan rakyat tempatan kerana ia menggalakkan aktiviti ekonomi domestik dan menjadikan negara sebagai pusat membeli-belah dan pelancongan yang kompetitif di rantau Asia Tenggara.

Bagaimanapun, beliau berkata, kerajaan sepatutnya menyediakan insentif kepada sektor swasta bagi melatih dan menyediakan tenaga mahir tempatan kerana ia bakal menggalakkan mereka (swasta) membangunkan kepakaran di dalam sektor masing-masing.

Dan pada masa sama, beliau mahu kerajaan berusaha membawa pulang tenaga kerja mahir di luar negara kerana pengalaman serta kepakaran mereka boleh dikongsi bersama dengan tenaga kerja tempatan yang lain.

Artikel Penuh: http://www.utusan.com.my/utusan/info.asp?y=2010&dt=1020&pub=utusan_malaysia&sec=Ekonomi&pg=ek_05.htm#ixzz2WRsb23Uu
© Utusan Melayu (M) Bhd 

Malaysia’s Goods and Services Tax lowest in the region

Posted on October 20, 2010, Wednesday

KUCHING: The Goods and Services Tax (GST) is generally not a cost to businesses making taxable supplies as the input tax on direct and indirect goods and services are creditable.

With the implementation of GST, it will help to avoid tax cascading, multiple taxation and transfer pricing bias which are proven to be inefficient over the years of implementation.

“Based on a study, the inflationary pressure is expected to be negative,” said the executive director of PricewaterhouseCoopers Taxation Services Sdn Bhd, Fan Kah Seong.

In comparing the standard GST rate in the region, Fan said that the GST that will be implemented in Malaysia is the lowest in the region.

He said that even though the government had postponed the bill, it has not withdrawn the bill and the GST would remain a long-term policy of the government.

Under the GST bill, business’ sales turnover of more than RM500,000 a year must obtain licences for GST. Companies are advised to apply for the GST licence three months before the GST implementation date to avoid any complications.

As for the types of products that attract GST, Fan noted that most supply of goods and services attract GST unless exempted by the government.

According to the GST bill, the government has outlined zero rate supplies; which are taxable supplies that are subject to zero rate and exempt supplies; which are not subjected to GST but suppliers cannot claim GST incurred on business inputs.

The supplies that have been outlined by the government under the GST bill that qualified for the zero rate and exempt supplies were mostly the necessities of the people.

On another note, he said that GST will also be covering importation, which included payment to foreign service providers.

In giving his personal estimation, Fan said that the possible timeline for the implementation of the GST was in 2013 and it was unlikely that the GST would be implemented in 2011.

Read more: http://www.theborneopost.com/2010/10/20/malaysia%e2%80%99s-goods-and-services-tax-lowest-in-the-region/#ixzz2dPotY6N1