GST: To be or not to be?

by Ronnie Teo, ronnieteo@theborneopost.com. Posted on February 8, 2012, Wednesday

NOT AN EASY TASK: A woman holding her child buys tomatoes at a market. The implementation of the GST will not be an easy task for the government as it involves both downstream and upstream players in the commercial, retail and manufacturing sectors, not forgetting the general public. — Reuters photo

Tan Eng Yew

KUCHING: The situation surrounding the Goods and Services Tax (GST) is a precarious one. Since its first mention some three years ago, ministers have delayed its implementation to further study its impact towards the society.

GST, a multi-stage consumption tax, is based on consumption rather than earnings and can be charged on virtually all supplies of goods and services. The proposed implementation will replace the current sales tax and services tax.

Many tax specialists believe it was just a matter of time before the GST takes place. Tan Eng Yew, executive director of KPMG Malaysia supported this opinion.

“The government has consistently reiterated the commitment to implement the GST in Malaysia. It is just a matter of timing,” affirmed Tan.

“However, being a major tax reform that will affect a broad spectrum of businesses and the consuming public, understandably the government will wish to ensure the general acceptance of this new regime and the readiness of the government machinery before making further announcements,” he added.

“These issues are being addressed at the moment. In terms of the rate of the GST, the indication so far has been that it would not be burdensome even though no specific announcement has been made.”

Should this be implemented, specialists believed the GST could give rise to new ways of operating businesses, presenting a rich scope for business efficiency.

Currently, Malaysia’s sales tax is imposed on taxable goods manufactured locally or imported, following the Sales Tax Act 1942.

On a broad scope, sales tax is charged as follow: five per cent for fruits, certain food items, timber and building materials, liquor and alcoholic drinks, cigarettes and tobacco products. All other goods not specifically exempted are taxed at 10 per cent.

Meanwhile, the services tax is a consumption-tax levied and charged on any taxable service provided by any taxable person. The current rate of service tax is six per cent of the price, charge or premium of the taxable service.

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Idris Jala previously said the government would be implementing the GST but not just yet as it wanted to ensure that the public fully understood the move and was supportive of it.

Its implementation would not be an easy task for the government as it involves both downstream and upstream players in the commercial, retail and manufacturing sectors, not forgetting the general public.

Also, there was fear that prices of goods and services would rise once the GST was put in place.

Read more: http://www.theborneopost.com/2012/02/08/gst-to-be-or-not-to-be/#ixzz2WBbMlZYL

GST hanya akan dilaksanakan selepas mendapat persetujuan

ARKIB : 14/02/2012

Oleh NOR AZAN FITRI AHMAD HIDZIR

JOHOR BAHRU 14 Feb. - Kerajaan hanya hanya akan melaksanakan sistem cukai barangan dan perkhidmatan (GST) selepas mendapat persetujuan daripada komuniti perniagaan termasuk penggiat dalam Industri Kecil dan Sederhana (IKS) di negara ini.

Timbalan Menteri Kewangan, Datuk Donald Lim Siang Chai berkata, persidangan meja bulat akan dilaksanakan bersama komuniti perniagaan pada pertengahan tahun ini bagi mendapatkan maklum balas sebelum bacaan kali kedua mengenai GST dijalankan di Dewan Rakyat.

Beliau memberitahu, bacaan pertama rang undang-undang tersebut dibuat pada 16 Disember 2009, bagaimanapun laporan daripada dewan-dewan perniagaan menyatakan bahawa 80 peratus daripada komuniti perniagaan masih belum bersedia terhadap perlaksanaan GST tersebut.

"Pada pertengahan tahun ini satu persidangan meja bulat akan dilakukan bagi melihat maklum balas dan cadangan daripada dewan-dewan perniagaan yang ada di negara ini dan selepas mendapat persetujuan majoriti antara 60 ke 70 peratus kita akan teruskan dengan bacaan kali kedua di Dewan Rakyat.

"Sistem ini hanya akan dilaksanakan apabila semua pihak sudah bersedia dan tiada sebarang tarikh khusus ditetapkan," katanya.

Beliau berkata demikian kepada pemberita selepas merasmikan Persidangan GST 2012 anjuran bersama Johor Coproration, Persatuan Akauntan Percukaian Malaysia (MATA), Kastam Diraja Malaysia dan Institut Pembangunan Pengurusan Johor, di Pusat Konvensyen Antarabangsa Persada, di sini hari ini.

Donald berkata, berkata sistem perlaksanaan GST bagi pengguna telah dijalankan dan hampir siap manakala kajian terperinci di peringkat kerajaan dan syarikat-syarikat akan dibuat selepas itu.

Beliau berkata, GST merupakan satu sistem cukai yang lebih adil kerana cukai dikenakan apabila berbelanja atau menggunakan barang dan perkhidmatan.

"Lebih banyak kita berbelanja, lebih banyak cukai yang kita bayar," katanya.

Beliau berkata, sebanyak 146 negara di dunia ini sudah melaksanakan sistem GST termasuk negara-negara Asia seperti Jepun, Singapura, Thailand, Indonesia dan Vietnam.

Beliau berkata, kadar GST yang ada pada waktu ini adalah sekitar kadar terendah iaitu lima peratus seperti di Kanada dan Jepun hingga ke kadar tertinggi iaitu sebanyak 24 peratus di Ireland.

"Hanya dua negara Asean yang masih belum melaksanakan sistem GST iaitu Malaysia dan Brunei," katanya. - UTUSAN

Artikel Penuh: http://www.utusan.com.my/utusan/info.asp?y=2012&dt=0214&pub=utusan_malaysia&sec=Terkini&pg=bt_10.htm#ixzz2WczZXhA5
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