Revise GST rates, says Wee

Published: Friday December 20, 2013 MYT 12:00:00 AM 

Updated: Friday December 20, 2013 MYT 6:45:30 AM

KUALA LUMPUR: The Goods and Services Tax (GST) rate should be revised downward to 4%, said outgoing MCA Youth chief Datuk Dr Wee Ka Siong.

He questioned why the GST rate had increased to 6%, though the initial suggestion was 4% when the Bill was tabled a few years ago.

“More in-depth study should be conducted before implementing GST in April 2015. The impact of the GST on the rakyat must be re-looked as well,” he said in his opening speech at the 49th MCA Youth annual general meeting at Wisma MCA here yesterday.

Dr Wee said the Government should expand the list of items exempted from the GST, especially electricity tariff, petrol and daily necessities.

The new taxation system must also be fully explained to the people to avoid confusion, he added.

On a separate matter, Dr Wee has warned Umno leaders to stop practising extremism at the expense of Barisan Nasional’s future.

He said making racial remarks would not help them to gain support, especially from the Chinese community.

“Though the Chinese have prejudice against MCA, we would continue to stand by the community through thick and thin,” he said.

Separately. MCA deputy president Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said party members should work beyond the interest of the Chinese community.

“We should work with other component parties for the betterment of all races,” he said in his opening address before opening the MCA Youth AGM.

Liow said it was vital to listen to the views of young members as they are the future of the party and the nation.

He added that he had proposed several re-invigorating exercises during his reign as the party Youth chief, including lowering the age limit to 40 from 45 for Youth membership.

He also suggested that the female members should be incorporated into the Youth wing.

“I am glad the proposals were accepted and implemented by outgoing Youth chief Datuk Dr Wee Ka Siong.

“Such a transformation showed that the MCA is committed to invest in youth,” he said.