MARCH 19, 2014
Putrajaya has allocated RM17 million for Goods and Services Tax (GST) campaigns to help the people to better understand the new tax which will come into force in April next year, deputy finance minister Datuk Ahmad Maslan (pic) said today.
"The money will cover advertisements in mainstream newspapers, billboards and social media like Twitter and Facebook," he told a press conference in the parliament building.
He also said 15,542 restaurants would be charging GST when the new tax is enforced.
The number of restaurants is three times more than those charging the service tax now.
However, Ahmad denied that the GST would result in restaurants charging more for food and drinks.
"The GST is only 1% higher than the 5% service tax charged by restaurants now," he said.
He added that the issue does not arise as operating costs like electricity bills are also involved.
"Electricity and others are input costs that can be claimed later. So that means there will be no price hikes," he said.
Ahmad said the government is also allocating RM120 million in subsidies to small and medium enterprises (SMEs) that use the GST system software.
He also said that 55 companies have been appointed to handle the system. – March 19, 2014.
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