Govt invites interested parties to explain GST to public

Posted on 22 December 2013 - 02:50pm

Last updated on 22 December 2013 - 04:31pm

KUALA LUMPUR (Dec 22, 2013): The government, through the Finance Ministry and Royal Malaysian Customs Department, is inviting interested parties like agencies, non-governmental organisations, associations and institutions of higher learning to help explain the Goods and Services Tax (GST) to Malaysians.

Royal Malaysian Customs internal tax division director Subromaniam Tholasy said the strategic cooperation could help the government disseminate the advantages of the GST right to the grassroots and end the people's confusion over the GST before its implementation.

"Our (the government's) priority now is to ensure everyone, whether in the urban or rural areas as well as companies, understand that the GST is good for the country and the people.

"We have disseminated information in the print and electronic media, but there is limited time.

"The time has now come for all quarters to work with the government in disseminating (the information), as this is a more effective method," he told Bernama after a roundtable on "GST: What Youths Think" here on Saturday.

The GST, also known as value-added tax in some countries, is a consumption tax imposed on goods and services at every production and distribution stage in the supply chain.

Fixed at 6%, the GST will replace the 16% sales and services tax (SST) now levied on certain goods and services, and is more effective, efficient, transparent and business-friendly.

Subromaniam said the government is always looking for a new mechanism by which to disseminate information on the GST more widely.

"We plan to involve more university students and youth associations," he said, adding wider public awareness of the GST could curb profiteering by businesses.

He also urged businesses to take advantage of the RM100 million training grant for businesses that send their employees for GST training in 2013 and 2014.

The roundtable, attended by 100 participants comprising academics, youths and university students, was organised by the Malaysian Institute for Research in Youth Development (IYRES). – Bernama