Friday, April 4, 2014

'It's a more transparent taxation system'


Publication: NST
Date of publication: Apr 4, 2014
Section heading: Main Section
Page number: 008
Byline / Author: By Zarina Zakariah; Hana Naz Harun

THE Goods and Services Tax (GST) is needed to improve the economy and livelihood of the people, but businesses must be monitored closely to curb profiteering when it is implemented next year.

Barisan Nasional members of Parliament, in supporting the GST bill, said the government had studied all aspects before deciding to implement the tax.

Datuk Johari Abdul Ghani (BN-Titiwangsa), during the debate, said the existing sales and services tax (SST) had a lot of weaknesses and was not economy-friendly.

"Under the SST, consumers may be double-taxed, as a retailer may charge an additional six per cent service tax on top of the five or 10 per cent sales tax.

"It also makes our products not competitive and not market-friendly," he said during the debate.

Johari also reminded the House that many essential items would not be taxed and that the government would be providing a one-off aid of RM300 as a measure to ease the transition period.

The government, however, must ensure that retailers and wholesalers do not take the opportunity to increase prices, he added.

"This is where the Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Ministry must play its role and ensure that businesses do not simply increase their prices," he said, suggesting that shops should display a shoppers' guide for consumers to compare prices before and after GST.

Meanwhile, Datuk Chua Tee Yong (BN- Labis) said the GST was a more transparent taxation system and implementing it would solve the cascading tax effect.

He also said that the GST was a consumption tax that would depend on the consumers' habits.

"If implemented correctly, it is an effective way for the government to find a more stable and business-friendly manner to increase revenue," he said, adding that it would reduce incidents of tax avoidance, with the presence of improved documentation in business transactions.

Datuk Wira Ahmad Hamzah (BN-Jasin) said that there were parties who claimed the government was in a rush to implement the new taxation system.

"This idea was not thought of yesterday. It has been proposed since 1988 and was tabled in the 1989 Budget. In the Asean region, only Malaysia and Myanmar have yet to implement GST."

Tony Pua (DAP-Petaling Jaya Utara), said that it was not time yet to implement the GST, as the gap between the rich and the poor was too wide.

The GST was announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak during the tabling of the 2014 Budget and will be implemented beginning April 1 next year at a rate of six per cent. When implemented, it will replace the sales tax and services tax introduced in 1972 and 1975, respectively.

Tribunal Rayuan GST akan dibentuk - Ahmad Husni


2014/04/03 - 17:24:51 PM

KUALA LUMPUR: Tribunal Rayuan Cukai Barang dan Perkhidmatan (GST) akan dibentuk bagi memberi ruang kepada mana-mana pihak tidak berpuas hati dengan keputusan Ketua Pegarah Kastam berhubung perkara itu, mengemukakan rayuan. 

Menteri Kewangan Kedua Datuk Seri Ahmad Husni Hanadzlah ketika membentang Rang Undang-Undang Cukai Barangan dan Perkhidmatan 2014 bagi bacaan kali kedua di Dewan Rakyat, di sini, Khamis berkata sistem percukaian yang adil mesti mempunyai ruang untuk menyemak semula apa-apa keputusan yang dibuat. 

Justeru, beliau berkata peruntukan bagi membolehkan Ketua Pengarah Kastam untuk mengkaji dan menyemak semula keputusan yang dibuat sebelumnya dan membuat keputusan muktamad dalam tempoh masa yang ditetapkan disediakan. 

Katanya, Tribunal Rayuan ini akan mempunyai seorang Pengerusi, Timbalan Pengerusi dan anggota lain, dan kuasa melantik mereka ini diberikan kepada Menteri Kewangan. 

"Selain itu, Menteri Kewangan juga mempunyai kuasa untuk menentukan saraan, terma dan syarat pelantikan anggota Tribunal," katanya. 

Rang undang-undang itu mengandungi 19 Bahagian merangkumi 197 Fasal. 

GST akan menggantikan cukai jualan dan cukai perkhidmatan yang dikenakan dan dipungut mengikut Akta Cukai Jualan 1972 dan Akta Cukai Perkhidmatan 1975. 

Ahmad Husni berkata, penubuhan Kumpulan Wang bagi Pembayaran Balik GST juga dilaksana bagi memudahkan urusan bayaran balik GST dengan konsep sama seperti tabung ditubuhkan di Lembaga Hasil Dalam Negeri bagi tujuan bayaran balik lebihan cukai pendapatan. 

Katanya, langkah itu menunjukkan kerajaan komited dalam membuat bayaran balik GST dalam tempoh 14 hari bekerja jika borang cukai dihantar secara elektronik dan 28 hari bekerja jika dihantar secara manual. 

"Ini bertujuan untuk tidak membebankan peniaga di dalam menanggung kos kewangan jika lambat menerima bayaran balik GST. 

"GST bukan kos kepada perniagaan. Ini disebabkan kerana apa-apa GST yang dibayar ke atas input boleh dituntut semula sebagai kredit daripada kerajaan," katanya. 

Ahmad Husni berkata rang undang-undang itu juga memperuntukkan kuasa kepada Menteri Kewangan untuk menentukan jenis barang dan perkhidmatan yang boleh dikenakan GST pada kadar sifar atau dikecualikan dari dikenakan GST. 

Beliau berkata penentuan itu akan dibuat melalui Perintah yang disiarkan dalam warta dan dibentangkan di Dewan Rakyat. 

"GST adalah cukai kepenggunaan yang dibayar apabila seseorang itu membuat pembelian atau berbelanja. Selain itu, semua peniaga yang layak juga perlu mengenakan CBP ke atas bekalan," katanya. 

Namun begitu, Ahmad Husni berkata dalam keadaan tertentu, Menteri Kewangan boleh memberikan pelepasan kepada mana-mana orang dari membayar GST ataupun mengenakan GST dengan senarai nama pelepasan dibentangkan di dewan. 

Dengan cadangan rang undang-undang ini, katanya, negara akan mempunyai sistem percukaian yang lebih telus, efisien dan mesra perniagaan bagi mencapai status negara maju. 

"Pelaksanaan GST sememangnya amat tepat pada masanya dalam mencapai wawasan negara maju berpendapatan tinggi. 

"Ia merupakan langkah kerajaan dalam menyusun semula struktur percukaian negara, di mana sebanyak 106 buah negara sudah melaksanakan GST," katanya. 

GST akan dilaksanakan di Malaysia pada 1 April 2015 seperti yang diumumkan oleh Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Najib Razak semasa membentangkan Bajet 2014. 

Kerajaan memperkenalkan GST pada enam peratus bagi menggantikan Cukai Jualan dan Perkhidmatan sebanyak 16 peratus. - BERNAMA

GST: Telus, cekap, mesra perniagaan



PELAKSANAAN cukai barang dan perkhidmatan atau lebih dikenali sebagai goods and services tax (GST) merupakan salah satu langkah kerajaan dalam menyusun semula struktur percukaian negara. Di dalam mencapai status negara maju dan berpendapatan tinggi, negara perlu mempunyai sistem percukaian yang lebih telus, efisien dan mesra perniagaan.

GST yang dicadangkan bukanlah cukai baharu. GST akan menggantikan cukai jualan dan cukai perkhidmatan yang sedang dilaksanakan sekarang. Langkah pemansuhan cukai jualan dan cukai perkhidmatan ini diambil kerana cukai jualan dan cukai perkhidmatan didapati mempunyai banyak kelemahan yang berpunca daripada sistem percukaian itu sendiri.

Antara kelemahan yang dikenal pasti adalah elemen cukai atas cukai yang menyebabkan pengguna terpaksa membayar harga lebih tinggi dan aktiviti pemindahan harga (transfer pricing) yang memberi kesan kepada kutipan hasil negara. Kelemahan ini sebenarnya memberi kesan negatif bukan sahaja kepada negara tetapi juga kepada pengguna.

GST telah terbukti sebagai satu sistem percukaian yang lebih efektif dan efisien serta mempunyai banyak kebaikan. Berdasarkan alasan itu juga sebanyak 160 buah negara di dunia telah melaksanakannya.

Rang undang-undang ini mengandungi 19 Bahagian yang merangkumi 197 Fasal termasuk empat Jadual. Peruntukan-peruntukan dalam rang undang-undang ini diringkaskan seperti berikut:

- Bahagian I, Fasal 1 - 4 bertujuan memperuntukkan perkara permulaan iaitu pertama, tentang apakah yang dimaksudkan dengan perniagaan dalam konteks pengenaan GST. Perniagaan yang dimaksudkan termasuk apa-apa tred, perdagangan, profesion, pekerjaan atau apa-apa aktiviti serupa yang lain sama ada bagi keuntungan wang ataupun tidak. Namun begitu maksud perniagaan tidak meliputi pekerjaan di bawah kontrak perkhidmatan dan hobi.

Selain itu, maksud pembekalan barang atau perkhidmatan juga diterangkan di samping menyenaraikan perkara yang dikira sebagai pembekalan barang atau perkhidmatan di dalam Jadual Pertama dan juga menyenaraikan perkara yang bukan pembekalan barang ataupun perkhidmatan di dalam Jadual Kedua.

- Bahagian II, Fasal 5 - 8 berkaitan pentadbiran GST terutamanya tentang Ketua Pengarah Kastam mempunyai pengawasan ke atas semua perkara berhubung dengan GST, keperluan kepada pegawai GST untuk memperkenalkan diri dalam melaksanakan kewajipan, semua pegawai GST adalah penjawat awam dan kerahsiaan maklumat.

- Bahagian III, Fasal 9 - 18 mengandungi peruntukan mengenai pengenaan dan skop GST. Bahagian ini disediakan bagi menjelaskan dengan teliti dalam keadaan mana GST boleh dikenakan dan kadar GST yang dikenakan. Menteri Kewangan diberi kuasa untuk menetapkan kadar GST melalui satu perintah yang disiarkan di dalam warta dan dibentangkan di Dewan Rakyat.

Berdasarkan pengumuman oleh Perdana Menteri semasa pembentangan Bajet 2014, kadar GST yang dicadangkan adalah 6%. Kadar ini adalah yang terendah di kalangan negara ASEAN.

Selain itu, peruntukan mengenai penentuan masa pembekalan, tempat pembekalan, layanan GST ke atas pembekalan perkhidmatan yang diimport, penentuan negara tempat pembekal atau penerima perkhidmatan, penetapan kaedah dalam menentukan nilai dan cara pengiraan nilai barang yang diimport juga telah disediakan.

Rang Undang-undang ini juga memperuntukkan kuasa kepada Menteri Kewangan untuk menentukan jenis barang dan perkhidmatan yang boleh dikenakan GST pada kadar sifar atau dikecualikan GST. Penentuan ini akan dibuat melalui perintah yang disiarkan dalam warta dan dibentangkan di Dewan Rakyat. Senarai barang dan perkhidmatan yang akan dikenakan GST pada kadar sifar dan dikecualikan GST telah diumumkan di dalam pembentangan Bajet 2014 yang lalu.

Antara barang dan perkhidmatan yang dicadangkan dikenakan GST pada kadar sifar adalah barangan makanan asas seperti beras, gula, garam, tepung dan minyak masak termasuk bekalan air paip dan 300 unit pertama bekalan elektrik bagi pengguna domestik.

Selain itu, perkhidmatan pengangkutan seperti perkhidmatan bas, keretapi, LRT, teksi, feri, bot, tol lebuh raya serta perkhidmatan pendidikan dan kesihatan juga akan dikecualikan GST. Ini termasuk jual beli dan sewaan rumah kediaman dan perkhidmatan kewangan yang terpilih seperti insurans nyawa.

Langkah yang diambil kerajaan ini sebenarnya bagi menjadikan GST yang dilaksanakan kelak bersifat progresif di samping membantu golongan berpendapatan rendah dan sederhana.

- Bahagian IV, fasal 19 - 32 memperkatakan perkara berkaitan pendaftaran. Peruntukan yang telah digubal adalah berkenaan pendaftaran secara mandatori dan pendaftaran secara sukarela bagi sesiapa yang ingin mendaftar.

Bagi tujuan pendaftaran, sesuatu perniagaan wajib berdaftar sekiranya nilai jualan tahunan melebihi tahap threshold yang ditetapkan iaitu RM500,000 setahun.

Manakala bagi perniagaan yang jualan tahunannya kurang daripada tahap threshold tersebut, mereka tidak perlu berdaftar tetapi dibenarkan untuk berdaftar secara sukarela.

Ini bermaksud perniagaan kecil tidak akan terbeban dengan kos permulaan dan pematuhan GST. Kuasa penetapan tahap threshold ini diberikan kepada Menteri Kewangan dan ianya perlu dibuat melalui satu perintah dan disiarkan di dalam warta. Selain itu, peruntukan berkaitan pendaftaran secara berkumpulan, pendaftaran bagi perkongsian, pertubuhan dan organisasi yang serupa dan pendaftaran bagi cawangan atau bahagian juga telah digubal.

- Bahagian V, fasal 33 - 53 membuat peruntukan mengenai perakaunan, taksiran, mendapatkan semula cukai dan sebagainya.

Perkara yang digubal adalah berkaitan pengeluaran invois cukai, keperluan untuk menyimpan rekod selama tujuh tahun dan asas perakaunan yang perlu diguna pakai semasa mengakaun cukai pada masa pembekalan.

Sepertimana Ahli-ahli Yang Berhormat sedia maklum, GST bukan merupakan kos kepada perniagaan. Ini disebabkan kerana apa-apa GST yang dibayar ke atas input boleh dituntut semula sebagai kredit daripada kerajaan.

Sehubungan itu, peruntukan mengenai kebenaran kepada orang kena cukai untuk memotong cukai input daripada cukai outputnya dan mengehadkan amaun cukai input sebagai kredit untuk bekalan tertentu juga telah disediakan.

Kemudahan yang disediakan ini juga akan menghapuskan elemen cukai atas cukai seperti yang terdapat di dalam sistem cukai jualan dan cukai perkhidmatan sekarang. Ini bermaksud pengguna akan membayar harga barang dan perkhidmatan yang lebih kompetitif dan telus.

- Bahagian VI, fasal 54 - 55 memperkatakan tentang penubuhan Kumpulan Wang bagi Pembayaran Balik GST. Penubuhan Kumpulan Wang ini atau lebih dikenali sebagai Tabung Bayaran Balik GST akan memudahkan urusan bayaran balik GST dan konsepnya adalah sama dengan tabung yang ditubuhkan di Lembaga Hasil Dalam Negeri bagi tujuan bayaran balik lebihan cukai pendapatan.

Langkah ini menunjukkan yang kerajaan komited di dalam membuat bayaran balik GST dalam tempoh 14 hari bekerja jika borang cukai dihantar secara elektronik dan 28 hari bekerja jika dihantar secara manual. Ini bertujuan untuk tidak membebankan peniaga di dalam menanggung kos kewangan jika lambat menerima bayaran balik GST.

- Bahagian VII, fasal 56 - 63 bertujuan memperuntukkan perkara mengenai pelepasan, pembayaran balik dan peremitan. GST merupakan satu bentuk cukai kepenggunaan yang akan dibayar apabila seseorang itu membuat pembelian ataupun berbelanja. Selain itu, semua peniaga yang layak juga perlu mengenakan GST ke atas bekalan barang atau perkhidmatan yang dibuat mereka.

Namun dalam keadaan terten­tu, Menteri Kewangan boleh memberikan pelepasan (relief) kepada mana-mana orang daripada membayar GST ataupun mengenakan GST.

Sebagai contoh, pelepasan akan diberi ke atas perolehan barang yang dibuat oleh jabatan kerajaan. Senarai mereka yang diberi pelepasan ini akan dibuat melalui perintah yang disiarkan dalam warta dan dibentangkan di Dewan Rakyat.

GST sebenarnya mempunyai mekanis­me tersendiri untuk merangsang sektor ekonomi yang terpilih. Sepertimana kita semua sedia maklum, industri pelancongan merupakan salah satu industri penting dalam perkembangan ekonomi negara. Di dalam memastikan perkembangan positif industri pelancongan terutamanya dalam menjadikan Malaysia sebagai destinasi membeli-belah utama dunia, peruntukan mengenai Skim Bayaran Balik Pelancong telah disediakan.

Melalui skim ini, pelancong yang membeli barang di kedai yang diluluskan dan seterusnya membawa keluar barang tersebut, boleh menuntut balik GST yang telah dibayar ke atas barang tersebut. Tuntutan bayaran balik boleh dibuat di lapangan terbang antarabangsa dan bayaran balik ini akan diproses dan dibuat oleh agen bayaran balik yang dilantik kerajaan.

l Bahagian VIII, fasal 64 - 75 membuat peruntukan mengenai kes khas. Dalam menjadikan sistem percukaian GST ini lebih mudah ditadbir urus, perkhidmatan yang dibuat oleh Jabatan Kerajaan Persekutuan dan Negeri tidak akan termasuk di dalam skop kenaan GST.

Ini bermaksud, orang ramai tidak perlu membayar GST ke atas perkhidmatan kerajaan seperti pengeluaran lesen, pasport dan kad pengenalan. Layanan yang sama juga diberikan ke atas perkhidmatan yang dibuat oleh Pihak Berkuasa Tempatan dan badan berkanun berkaitan dengan fungsi pengawalseliaan dan penguatkuasaannya.

Kerajaan sedar bahawa pelaksanaan GST mestilah bersifat mesra peniaga iaitu perlu selari dengan aturan biasa sesuatu jenis perniagaan. Sehubungan itu, peruntukan mengenai pelepasan hutang lapuk, pelepasan barang terpakai, pelantikan dan tatacara bekalan yang dibuat oleh ejen, pemindahan usaha berterusan dan usahasama telah disediakan.

Selain itu, skim-skim khas juga diperkenalkan bagi memenuhi keperluan urusniaga yang mempunyai karakter yang tersendiri. Skim-skim khas yang terdapat di dalam Rang Undang-undang ini adalah seperti berikut:

(a) Skim Penggudangan - sekiranya terdapat bekalan ke atas barang diimport yang tertakluk kepada skim penggudangan, maka bekalan yang berlaku di dalam gudang tersebut tidak akan dikenakan GST;

(b) Skim Pedagang Diluluskan - cukai ke atas barang yang diimport akan digantung tetapi ianya perlu diakaun dalam tempoh bercukai berlakunya pengimportan tersebut;

(c) Skim Pengilang Tol Diluluskan - bekalan barang siap daripada pengilang tol kepada prinsipalnya yang berada di luar negara tidak akan diambil kira dalam pengenaan GST;

(d) Skim Tukang Emas Diluluskan - orang kena cukai tidak perlu mengakaun GST yang dikenakan ke atas bekalan barang tertentu kepada tukang emas diluluskan. Sebaliknya, tukang emas yang diluluskan tersebut perlu mengakaunkan sendiri cukai tersebut;

(e) Skim Kadar Rata - skim ini membenarkan orang yang layak untuk mengenakan tambahan kadar rata ke atas balasan bekalannya. Skim ini secara asasnya adalah disediakan kepada petani yang belum mencapai threshold;

(f) Aktiviti pasaran modal - di dalam skim ini, broker saham dan remisier akan dianggap sebagai satu entiti tunggal bagi tujuan pendaftaran. Skim ini adalah bertujuan untuk mengurangkan masalah yang dihadapi remisier yang majoritinya berada di bawah tahap threshold yang ditetapkan dan jualan tahunan yang tidak menentu. Semua pendaftaran akan dibuat atas nama broker saham.

Perkukuh Akta Kawalan Harga, Anti Pencatutan


KUALA LUMPUR 3 April - Kerajaan digesa memperkukuhkan penguatkuasaan Akta Kawalan Harga dan Anti Pencatutan bagi mengekang tindakan peniaga mengambil kesempatan menaikkan harga barang apabila Akta Cukai Barang dan Perkhidmatan 2014 (GST) dilaksanakan tahun depan.

Gesaan itu disuarakan Datuk Johari Abdul Ghani (BN-Titiwangsa) yang melihat kemungkinan-kemungkinan tersebut jika akta sedia ada ‘gagal’ digunakan sebaik-baiknya.

Malah, beliau juga menggesa Kementeri­an Perdagangan Dalam Negeri, Koperasi dan Kepenggunaan supaya turut sama memantau dan bertindak terhadap pengilang dan pemborong yang melakukan perkara sama.

“Kepada kerajaan, ambil langkah-langkah dan menggunakan akta ini (Akta Kawalan Harga dan Anti Pencatutan) bersungguh-sungguh supaya jangan ada peniaga ambil kesempatan menaikkan harga.

"Dan, kalau boleh, apabila GST dilaksanakan, kerajaan perlu memastikan setiap kedai mempamerkan senarai barang-barang yang sebelum ini ada cukai jualan dan cukai perkhidmatan kepada barang-barang yang dikenakan GST,'' katanya ketika membahaskan Rang Undang-Undang Cukai Barang dan Perkhidmatan 2014 bagi bacaan kali kedua di Dewan Rakyat hari ini.

Sementara itu, Johari turut meminta kerajaan supaya mengadakan program kesedaran di sekolah dan institusi pengajian tinggi (IPT) berhubung pelaksanaan sistem percukaian GST.

Dalam pada itu, sesi perbahasan berhubung rang undang-undang berkenaan diselang-seli dengan ‘kutukan’ pembangkang yang jelas menolak pelaksanaan GST.

Namun, Datuk Ar. Wan Khairil Anuar Wan Ahmad (BN-Kuala Kangsar) ketika mencelah perbahasan Datuk Ahmad Hamzah (BN-Jasin) mempersoalkan tindakan pem­­bangkang yang menolak GST, cukai yang dilihat sebagai efisien dan tersusun.

“Yang menentang beria-ia GST ini kenapa? Adakah mereka ini mempertahankan orang yang tak bayar cukai atau menipu cukai?'' soal beliau.

Perkara sama ditegaskan Dr. Noor Azmi Ghazali (BN-Bagan Serai) yang membuat persoalan berikut: “Kutipan cukai ini (GST) untuk meningkatkan pendapatan kerajaan supaya kerajaan dapat tolong rakyat. Yang membangkang ini, mereka tidak mempedulikan tentang rakyat."

Terdahulu, Ahmad Hamzah ketika meneruskan perbahasan berkata, pelbagai fitnah ditaburkan kononnya kerajaan terburu-buru melaksanakan GST.

“Idea GST ini bukan tumbuh semalam tetapi sejak 1988 semasa pembentangan Bajet 1989. Dan jangan lupa, Ketua Pembangkang (Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim) juga bertanggungjawab membentang GST (ketika masih bersama kerajaan).

“(Dalam pelaksanaan GST) kerajaan sudah melakukan pelbagai kajian dan 2015 merupakan tahun bersesuaian untuk melaksanakannya.'' katanya.

Sesi perbahasan berhubung rang undang-undang tersebut akan disambung semula dalam sidang Isnin ini.

© Utusan Melayu (M) Bhd

GST: Peruntuk penubuhan tribunal rayuan


KUALA LUMPUR 3 April - Rang Undang-Undang Cukai Barang dan Perkhidmatan 2014 memperuntukkan fasal mengenai penubuhan Tribunal Rayuan Cukai Barang dan Perkhidmatan (GST) yang telah digubal bagi memberi ruang mana-mana pihak mengemukakan sebarang bentuk rayuan.

Menteri Kewangan II, Datuk Seri Ahmad Husni Mohamad Hanadzlah berkata, ini menjurus kepada rasa tidak puas hati dengan sebarang keputusan yang dibuat oleh Ketua Pengarah Kastam berhubung ketetapan pelaksanaan sistem percukaian itu.

"Sistem percukaian yang adil mestilah mempunyai ruang untuk menyemak semula apa-apa keputusan yang telah dibuat. Sehubungan itu, peruntukan bagi membolehkan Ketua Pengarah Kastam untuk mengkaji dan menyemak semula keputusan yang telah dibuat sebelumnya dan membuat keputusan muktamad dalam tempoh masa yang ditetapkan telah disediakan.

"Peruntukan mengenai penubuhan Tribunal Rayuan GST juga telah digubal. Platform yang disediakan ini bagi memberi ruang kepada mana-mana pihak yang tidak berpuas hati dengan apa-apa keputusan yang dibuat Ketua Pengarah Kastam untuk membuat rayuan kepada tribunal itu,'' katanya.

Beliau berkata demikian ketika membentangkan rang undang-undang itu untuk bacaan kali kedua di Dewan Rakyat hari ini.

Ahmad Husni berkata, tribunal itu akan mempunyai seorang pengerusi, timbalan pengerusi dan anggota lain tribunal dengan kuasa melantik mereka ini diberikan kepada Menteri Kewangan.

Jelasnya, Menteri Kewangan juga mempunyai kuasa untuk menentukan saraan, terma dan syarat pelantikan anggota tribunal berke­naan.

Sementara itu, menurutnya, GST tidak dikenakan di kawasan yang ditetapkan iaitu di Labuan, Langkawi dan Pulau Tioman dan ini bermakna selain pelancong, penduduk di ketiga-tiga kawasan itu juga secara asasnya tidak perlu membayar GST ke atas pembelian barang atau perkhidmatan.

Dalam perkembangan lain, beliau memberitahu, walaupun Menteri Kewangan diberi kuasa untuk menetapkan kadar GST tetapi perkara itu perlu dibuat melalui satu perintah dan dibentangkan di Dewan Rakyat.

“Berdasarkan kepada pengumuman Perdana Menteri semasa pembentangan Bajet 2014, kadar GST yang dicadangkan ialah enam peratus. Kadar ini ialah terendah dalam kalangan negara ASEAN.

“Senarai barang dan perhidmatan yang akan dikenakan GST pada kadar sifar dan dikecualikan dari GST telah diumumkan, antaranya beras, gula, garam, tepung dan minyak masak termasuk bekalan air paip dan 300 unit pertama bekalan elektrik bagi pengguna domestik," katanya.

Tambah beliau, ini termasuk jual beli dan sewaan rumah kediaman dan perkhidmatan kewangan yang terpilih seperti insurans nyawa.

"Langkah yang diambil kerajaan ini sebenarnya bagi menjadikan GST yang dilaksanakan kelak bersifat progresif di samping membantu golongan berpendapatan rendah dan sederhana," katanya.

© Utusan Melayu (M) Bhd

Dewan gamat, MP bertikam lidah bahas GST


APR 03, 2014 SALMIYAH HARUN

KUALA LUMPUR: Perbahasan Rang Undang-undang Cukai Barang dan Perkhidmatan (GST) 2014 yang dibentang untuk bacaan kali kedua mengundang pertikaman lidah wakil rakyat sekaligus mengamatkan sidang Dewan Rakyat hari ini

Kedua-dua wakil rakyat daripada Pakatan Rakyat dan BN masing-masing tetap mempertahankan hujah mereka.

Pakatan Rakyat dengan hujah dan penegasan mereka bahawa kerajaan BN akan membebankan rakyat yang berpendapatan rendah jika terus berdegil untuk memperkenalkan GST.

Manakala BN pula dengan hujahnya mengatakan bahawa langkah kerajaan memperkenalkan GST untuk memberi kesenangan kepada rakyat sekali gus menambah kewangan negara.

Misalnya Ahli Parlimen Jasin Datuk Wira Ahmad Hamzah dalam perbahasannya menyalahkan Pakatan Rakyat yang memutarbelitkan fakta berhubung GST menyebabkan rakyat memandang serong kepada kerajaan.

Malah Ahmad turut mempertahankan beberapa barangan asas tidak akan dikenakan cukai seperti beras, minyak dan gula.

"Pakcik di kampung tidak akan terkena dengan cukai ini. Minyak, gula tidak ada GST. Saya tahu saya orang kampung," katanya.

Penghujahan wakil rakyat BN itu mengundang banyak celahan daripada wakil Pakatan Rakyat antaranya Ahli Parlimen Shah Alam, Ahli Parlimen Petaling Jaya Utara Tony Pua, dan Ahli Parlimen Sepang Hanipa Maidin yang masing-masing membantah apa yang dikatakan oleh wakil BN itu.

Suasana sesi perbahasan bertambah gamat apabila Ahli Parlimen Pandan Rafizi Ramli membidas kerajaan BN mengatakan GST tidak adil kepada rakyat terbanyak.

Rafizi berkata, alasan kerajaan memperkenalkan GST kerana kewangan negara berpanjangan mengalami defisit sejak tahun 1998 hinggalah 2014.

"Tidak ada satu tahun pun kerajaan BN mampu ada lebihan wang, tiap-tiap tahun akan beri kesan kepada kedudukan kewangan.

"16 tahun kerajaan BN bergantung kepada beban hutang negara dan tiap-tiap tahun kerajaan terbitkan bon untuk hutang baru,"tegas Rafizi ketika membahaskan rang undang-undang GST.

Hujahan Rafizi itu mengundang celahan tidak berpuas hati di kalangan wakil rakyat BN menyebabkan suasana terus gamat.

Rafizi juga memberi gambaran kerajaan BN akan tumbang selepas ini kerana memperkenalkan GST dengan memberi contoh kerajaan Australia di bawah pentadbiran John Harvard yang tumbang selepas perkenalkan GST.

Kenyataan Rafizi itu mengundang celahan Ahli Parlimen Kinabatangan Datuk Bung Mokhtar Raden yang mencabar Rafizi untuk melihat sama ada BN akan tumbang pada PRU-14 nanti.

"Kita lihat betul atau tidak kerajaan BN akan tumbang pada PRU-14 nanti selepas GST diperkenalkan tahun depan,"katanya.

Ahli Parlimen Gombak Azmin Ali yang mencelah turut membidas kerajaan BN yang mempunyai sindrom penafian walaupun hakikatnya GST tidak sesuai dilaksanakan kerana perkapita rakyat negara ini masih di tahap rendah.

Rafizi yang terus berhujah mengatakan kerajaan masih ada mekanisma lain untuk menambahkan pendapatan negara tanpa membebankan rakyat dengan GST.

"Malaysia ada industri monopoli misalnya Astro. Semua tahu Astro mendapat untung berlipat ganda sepatutnya dikenakan cukai durian runtuh tetapi ia tidak berlaku di negara kita. Di luar negara cukai ini dikenakan kepada orang kaya,"katanya.

Justeru beliau mengajak Ahli Parlimen BN bersama-sama Pakatan Rakyat agar Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak menarik semula rang undang-undang ini demi keadilan rakyat.

"GST tidak adil untuk rakyat, selagi undang-undang ini tidak di tarik balik kita akan lawan di dalam dan luar dewan,"tegas Rafizi.

Habib Jewels aims to boost sales by 20% this year


Published: Friday April 4, 2014 MYT 12:00:00 AM 
Updated: Friday April 4, 2014 MYT 6:37:18 AM

KUALA LUMPUR: Habib Jewels Sdn Bhd, aims to boost sales by 20% this year driven by growing demand for gold as an investment.

Managing director Datuk Meer Sadik Habib said the sales of gold jewellery were expected to increase this year as consumers prepare for implementation of the goods and services tax (GST) in April next year. 

“Last year, the sales of gold items were very good as the price of the metal fell. I believe the trend will continue, although the price is stable now. 

“Most consumers buy gold jewellery as a long-term investment and implementation of the GST will somewhat affect sales,” he told reporters after the launch of the Habib Diamond Fest 2014, themed Shoot For The Stars here yesterday. – Bernama

GST appeal tribunal to be formed to handle appeals, Dewan Rakyat told


Business & Markets 2014
Written by Bernama 
Thursday, 03 April 2014 17:45

KUALA LUMPUR (Apr 3): A Goods and Services Tax (GST) Appeal Tribunal will be established to deal with appeals against decisions made by the Customs director-general, Second Finance Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Husni Hanadzlah told the Dewan Rakyat today.

He said the tribunal's chairman, deputy chairman and other members would be appointed by the Finance Minister.

"The Finance Minister also has the power to determine the terms and conditions and remuneration for the tribunal," he said when tabling the GST Bill 2014 for second reading in the august House.

Ahmad Husni said the GST refund scheme was similar to that used by the Inland Revenue Board to refund taxpayers who have paid excess taxes.

He said the government was committed to giving GST refunds within 14 working days if the GST rebate forms were sent online or 28 days if the forms were sent by hand.

"This is to ease the financial burden on businesses if their GST refunds are late.

"The GST is not a cost to businesses because any GST paid can be claimed as input tax credit from the government," he said.

Ahmad Husni said the Bill also gave the Finance Minister the authority to determine which goods and services would be exempted from GST by an order published in the Government Gazette and placed on the table in the Dewan Rakyat.

The GST is a consumption tax paid when a person spends or makes a purchase and is imposed on taxable supplies, he said.

He said the finance minister can, in certain situations, give certain people GST exemptions, with the list tabled in the Dewan Rakyat.

The GST, being implemented in 106 countries, is a transparent, efficient and business-friendly taxation system to aid the country's efforts to achieve high-income status, he added.

The GST, which will take effect on April 1 next year, at six per cent, will replace the 16 per cent sales and services tax now levied on certain goods and services.

‘Low-income groups may not be able to withstand shocks from GST’


Business & Markets 2014
Written by Levina Lim of theedgemalaysia.com 
Thursday, 03 April 2014 10:18

KUALA LUMPUR: Low-income households may not be able to withstand economic shocks if the goods and services tax (GST) is implemented during a period of rising inflation, said Institut Rakyat, an independent policy think tank established by Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR).

Minimum household income has not reached a level deemed necessary and adequate to absorb shocks to purchasing power due to GST implementation, the think tank said. 

“With rising inflation due largely to subsidy rollbacks and a likely economic recession by 2016, Institut Rakyat is concerned that low-income households will not be able to withstand economic shocks if GST is implemented,” it said in a policy brief by economist Azrul Azwar Ahmad Tajudin. 

“Only 1.8 million people earn enough to pay personal income tax, equivalent to only 28% of the total 6.4 million registered individual taxpayers or 14% of the overall workforce,” it pointed out.

The policy brief is the first in an occasional series of policy briefs, and aims to set out the policy and financial challenges posed by the GST to the Malaysian public. 

A 6% GST is due to be levied on consumption from April 1, 2015. 

“The introduction of GST during a period of rising inflation is a very risky strategy and could amplify downside risks to economic growth,” said Institut Rakyat, adding that the GST could be a justification for businesses to raise prices, charges, or tariff on their goods and services.

“Lack of stringent enforcement could compound the effects of galloping inflation — a double whammy,” it said.

The think tank also cautioned that untimely GST implementation will bring an adverse impact on aggregate demand and hence overall GDP growth, particularly if consumers choose to adopt “a very cautious spending stance for an extended period pre- and post-GST implementation”.

“There are many other out-of-the-box options to diversify the revenue base and/or broaden existing revenue sources (of the government),” said the think tank. 

It added that there is a need to cut down spending and eliminate leakages, wastage and corrupt practices to ensure fiscal sustainability without introducing the GST.

The policy brief also noted that GST will be regressive as low-income earners pay a higher proportion of their income as tax than higher income earners, which will widen income inequality and the gap between the rich and the poor. 

This article first appeared in The Edge Financial Daily, on April 3, 2014.

Property market to rebound in second half 2014


Posted on 4 April 2014 - 05:40am

PETALING JAYA: RHB Research has upgraded the property sector to "overweight" from "neutral" underpinned by undemanding sector valuations, catalysts from upcoming infrastructure projects, a stronger 2014 GDP growth outlook, and a negative real interest rate environment.

Its analyst Loong Kok Wen believes that the sector's valuations have largely priced in the negative impact of the Government's cooling measures announced in Budget 2014.

It pointed out that the property sector is now trading at a 33% discount to Revalued Net Asset Value (RNAV), which is slightly higher than the pre-election level, and much lower than the recent peak of 13%.

It also advised investors to take up positions in larger-cap property stocks which are now trading at attractive valuations compared to small caps stocks which have appreciated by 59% compared to the larger cap stock's 26%.

He instead recommended that investors switch to larger-cap property stocks, as they are a better proxy to the property sector, especially with market demand expected to recover.

"Going into the second quarter, we advise investors to position for the larger-cap property stocks, as these developers are typically those with much stronger balance sheets, more strategic landbank portfolios, stronger brand names, and better management and execution track records," he said. His top picks were IJM Land Bhd and Sunway Bhd.

Loong also noted that the high-speed rail (HSR), MRT lines 2 and 3, and Kwasa Damansara projects development in Sungai Buloh will be the additional re-rating catalysts for the sector, especially within the Klang Valley.

He believes the spillover from both the HSR and MRT projects to the property market will be the greatest in the Klang Valley, while sentiment in the Iskandar Malaysia market will also likely recover.

"We expect the news flow from both projects to stream in from mid- 2014," he said

He said Penang's growth will still be primarily driven by the flow of investments into Batu Kawan while Iskandar Malaysia, although demand in the physical market will take longer to recover, there is market speculation that a new casino may be built in Johor.

"If this materialises, it could give rise to spillover effects on that region's property sector," he said.

Loong believes that Malaysia property sector will recover in the second half of 2014 (2H14) driven by a stronger 2014 gross domestic product (GDP) growth outlook and the implementation of the goods and services tax (GST) in April 2015.

He said that the implementation of the GST from April 1, 2015 is expected to spur demand for big-ticket items, such as white goods and properties, as consumers rush to make purchases to avoid paying the tax.

"In anticipation of a price increase of at least 6% next year due to this tax, and the likelihood of the incremental cost being passed on by developers, we believe demand for properties will increase in 2H14," said.

In conclusion, Loong urged investors to watch out for UEM Sunrise Bhd and Eastern & Oriental Bhd.

"The former will be one of the prime beneficiaries when the HSR or casino projects are announced, while the latter is expected to obtain approval for its Seri Tanjung Pinang 2 project in mid-2014. We also view E&O as a potential takeover target," he said.

GST refund, review panels


04 April 2014| last updated at 12:17AM
By ZARINA ZAKARIAH AND HANA NAZ HARUN | news@nst.com.my

EFFICIENT PROCESS: Refunds to be made from 14 to 28 days, assures Husni

KUALA LUMPUR: A GOODS and Services Tax (GST) refund body will be set up to ensure a smooth refund process, similar to the one put in place by the Inland Revenue Board (LHDN), which handles tax refunds for individuals and businesses.

The refund will be given out within 14 working days if the tax forms are done electronically or 28 days if done manually, according to the GST Bill 2014, which was tabled for its second reading by second finance minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Husni Hanadzlah in Parliament yesterday.

Husni said the bill would also provide a platform for a review of GST, known as the GST Review Tribunal, to address grouses by any parties on decisions made by the Customs director over GST.

"A fair taxation system must give room for a review on decisions made on the matter within a stipulated timeframe.

"The tribunal will comprise a chairman, deputy chairman and other members appointed by the Finance Minister," he told Parliament when tabling the bill.

In special cases, the government may decide on GST waivers as it deems fit.

"GST is a form of consumer tax that is levied when a consumer makes a purchase or spends and businesses that are eligible to charge taxes can do so under the GST Bill 2014.

"However, in special cases, the finance ministry can provide tax relief to individuals or businesses as it deems fit.

"The list of those waived from GST will be gazetted and tabled in Parliament."

The government will impose GST waivers for services provided by the federal and state governments, such as driving licences, passports and identity cards, among others.

Clauses 154 to 160 of the proposed law also puts forward a suggestion for Labuan, Langkawi and Tioman to be made tax-free. Locals and tourists in the three areas would enjoy tax-free goods and services.

Any individual may appoint a GST tax agent to represent them on matters pertaining to GST. Any individual may apply to be a GST agent, subject to approval by the finance ministry, as specified by clauses 164-177.

With the introduction of the GST, both the Sales Tax Act 1972 and Services Tax Act 1975 will be abolished.

"The tax forms must be returned no later from 28 days annually upon the GST's date of implementation beginning next year."

The bill also outlined the penalties that could be imposed on GST evasion, such as inaccurate tax statements, tax evasion and fraud, dishonest tax refunds, offences on goods, invoices and receipts, obstruction of officers in charge, refusal to answer queries over GST, giving false information as well as abetment over GST taxation matters.

"With the GST Bill 2014, Malaysia will be able to reduce dependence on income tax and petroleum revenues, which fluctuate depending on the economy as well as being a non-permanent resource.

"It is time for us to move towards a transparent, efficient and business-friendly taxation system to achieve high-income nation status," he added.

On Monday, Husni tabled the GST Bill for its first reading, where it was debated by members of Parliament.

The GST Bill was first mooted by then finance minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim in 1993 but was put on hold due to many considerations before it could be implemented.

GST appeals tribunal to be set up, says Finance Ministry


Published: Thursday April 3, 2014 MYT 5:18:00 PM 
Updated: Thursday April 3, 2014 MYT 5:22:32 PM
Second Finance Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Husni Hanadzlah
says a GST appeals tribunal will be established to deal with
appeals against decisions by the Customs Director-General.
KUALA LUMPUR: A goods and services tax appeals tribunal will be established to deal with appeals against decisions by the Customs Director-General, said Second Finance Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Husni Hanadzlah.

He said the Tribunal's chairman, deputy chairman and other members will be appointed by the Finance Minister.

"The Finance Minister also has the power to determine the terms and conditions including remuneration of the tribunal," he said when tabling the GST Bill 2014 for second reading at the Dewan Rakyat here today.

Ahmad Husni said the GST refund scheme is similar to that used by the Inland Revenue Board for refunding a taxpayer who has paid excess taxes, adding the government is committed to giving GST refunds within 14 working days if the GST rebate forms are sent online or 28 days if the forms are sent manually.

"This is aimed at easing the financial burden on businesses if their GST refunds are late. The GST is not a cost to businesses, because any GST paid can be claimed back as input tax credit from the government," he said.

Ahmad Husni said the bill also gives the Finance Minister the authority to determine which goods and services will be exempted from the GST by order published in the Gazette and laid on the table of the Dewan Rakyat.

The GST is a consumption tax paid when a person spends or makes a purchase, and is imposed on taxable supplies, he said, adding the Finance Minister can, in certain situations, give certain persons GST exemption, with the list to be tabled at the Dewan Rakyat.

The GST, which has been implemented in 106 countries, is a transparent, efficient and business-friendly taxation system to aid the country's efforts to achieve high-income status, he said.

The GST, which will take effect on April 1, 2015 at a rate of six per cent, will replace the 16% sales and services tax now levied on certain goods and services. – Bernama

Ahmad Husni: GST tribunal to be set up for appeals


APRIL 3, 2014
A GST Appeal Tribunal will be established to deal with appeals
against decisions by the Customs Director-General, said Datuk Seri
Ahmad Husni Hanadzlah today. — Reuters pic
KUALA LUMPUR, April 3 — A Goods and Services Tax Appeal Tribunal will be established to deal with appeals against decisions by the Customs Director-General, said Second Finance Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Husni Hanadzlah.

He said the Tribunal’s Chairman, Deputy Chairman and other members will be appointed by the Finance Minister.

“The Finance Minister also has the power to determine the terms and conditions including remuneration of the Tribunal,” he said when tabling the GST Bill 2014 for second reading at the Dewan Rakyat here today.

Ahmad Husni said the GST refund scheme is similar to that used by the Inland Revenue Department for refunding a taxpayer who has paid excess taxes, adding the government is committed to giving GST refunds within 14 working days if the GST rebate forms are sent online or 28 days if the forms are sent manually.

“This is aimed at easing the financial burden on businesses if their GST refunds are late.

“The GST is not a cost to businesses, because any GST paid can be claimed back as input tax credit from the government,” he said.

Ahmad Husni said the Bill also gives the Finance Minister the authority to determine which goods and services will be exempted from the GST by order published in the Gazette and laid on the table of the Dewan Rakyat.

The GST is a consumption tax paid when a person spends or makes a purchase, and is imposed on taxable supplies, he said, adding the Finance Minister can, in certain situations, give certain persons GST exemption, with the list to be tabled at the Dewan Rakyat. 

The GST, which has been implemented in 106 countries, is a transparent, efficient and business-friendly taxation system to aid the country’s efforts to achieve high-income status, he said.

The GST, which will take effect on April 1, 2015 at a rate of six per cent, will replace the 16 per cent sales and services tax now levied on certain goods and services. — Bernama

- See more at: http://www.themalaymailonline.com/malaysia/article/ahmad-husni-gst-tribunal-to-be-set-up-for-appeals#sthash.eFkLvZLv.dpuf

Thursday, April 3, 2014

The hardest hit


Published: Thursday April 3, 2014 MYT 12:00:00 AM 
Updated: Thursday April 3, 2014 MYT 8:30:22 AM
Tough act: It is a back-breaking chore for the elderly to
cart pails of water home for use.
Vulnerable groups like the disabled and the elderly are badly affected by the ongoing water rationing exercise in Selangor.

THE water cuts introduced in Selangor last month have caused inconvenience to many.

However, for certain communities like the disabled and the elderly, the situation brought extra challenges for them.

For GST from Kuang, the latest water rationing exercise started on a good note. It was surprisingly the best organised one he had experienced in a decade – or so he thought, until things went awry later.

The 60-year-old blind man whose wife is sighted, was thrilled when the water cut schedule details were made public with ample notice given. He picked up the information on the Internet with the help of a screen reader, a software program that allows the visually impaired to read text on the computer screen with a speech synthesiser.

The couple got all the large water containers out of their storeroom and placed them in strategic places in their house.

As GST’s wife goes out to work everyday and the former is left in the house to do the cooking and cleaning, careful thought was given on where the pails of water were kept, especially as each exercise would stretch for 48 hours on a rotation basis.

So the water containers were placed in the kitchen, bathroom and garden.

GST’s responsibilities include mopping the floor, bathing his two dogs and ensuring that they have fresh water everyday. The water cuts were no excuse for a blind man to shirk his responsibilities. He had to be careful though, not to spill water on the floor as that could pose a hazard should he slip and fall when he is alone in the house.

Last week, GST cleared all his containers and kept them in the storeroom, thinking that the water rationing exercise was over. However, the exercise has been extended to the end of this month.

For people in wheelchairs, the water cuts can be a nightmare. MY and her husband live in Kepong. Both of them are wheelchair users. When their taps suddenly went dry, their hearts almost stopped.

The couple claim that the water cuts came when it was not supposed to. Luckily for them, the pipe outside their house had water trickling in.

They had to carry pails on their laps in their wheelchairs, in and out of the house to collect water to last them for two days. Their wheelchairs left behind ugly tyre marks from the spilled water in their living room and kitchen.

They had no one to ask for help. Even their able-bodied neighbours didn’t come forward to offer help.

With all the pails in the house, the couple also had trouble manoeuvring their wheelchairs around.

As the disabled are badly affected by any water cuts, here are some steps that can be taken to give them a helping hand:

> Local councils: Please have a registry of disabled and elderly residents in your area. During crisis situations like this, make a call or visit these vulnerable residents to check on them. Offer to make special delivery of water for those who need it. Extend this service to centres for the disabled and the elderly. Set up a 24-hour hotline for them. Train your staff to handle SOS calls from the elderly and the disabled, so that they can be referred to other emergency services.

When delivering water to the public, create a priority line for the disabled and the elderly. Be prepared to give them extra help, if necessary. For example, they may need help in carrying water containers to their vehicles or homes.

> Residents’ associations: Please take a sincere interest in the welfare of all your residents, not just the healthy ones. Try to put yourselves in the shoes of these vulnerable groups, and go the extra mile to help them. Include them in all your programmes.

> Neighbours: Do try to get to know who your neighbours are, especially those who need your help, but may be too shy or afraid to approach you.

The views expressed are entirely the writer’s own.

‘Allowances cut to encourage prudent spending’


Anisah Shukry | April 2, 2014

The government wants the public to spend wisely and prudently.

KUALA LUMPUR: The main reason the government slashed civil servants’ allowances was to encourage the public to spend prudently, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Shahidan Kassim said today.

But the minister told the Dewan Rakyat this morning that public servants would not suffer from the reduced allowances, as their salary will remain untouched.

“The main reason we reduced incentives is to encourage the rakyat to spend prudently. But there is no (adverse) impact on them because it just involves cutting entertainment allowances and the switching (their flights) from business to economy class,” Shahidan said during question session this morning.

He was responding to a question from Abdullah Sani Abdul Hamid (PKR-Kuala Langat), who asked whether the government would reconsider reducing salaries and allowances of civil servants given the rise in cost of living and essential goods.

An irate Abdullah Sani pointed out that Shahidan’s answer flies in the face of government ministers’ own excessive spending, and took a dig at Rosmah Mansor’s private jet trip to Qatar, which cost taxpayers RM426,489.

The PKR lawmaker said that while the country’s leaders and their wives enjoyed a luxurious lifestyle at the expense of taxpayers, public servants’ salaries and allowances had remained stagnant throughout the years.

“What measures will the government take to ensure public servants are not left in the lurch, especially in view of the goods and services tax (GST) soon to be implemented?” demanded Abdullah Sani.

But Shahidan sidestepped the question, saying that his queries would be answered when the GST Bill is tabled for the second reading in Parliament tomorrow.

“We are not reducing their salaries. We are just cutting a small amount of their entertainment allowance and this only applies to ministers, deputy ministers, and grade Jusa C officers,” said Shahidan.

In December last year, Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak announced 11 measures to slash public sector expenditure which included reducing senior government officers’ allowances by 5% to 10%.

The toll facilities would also be reduced by 30%, or between RM50 to RM100. Meanwhile, grade Jusa C officers and below would only be eligible for economy class flights.

The austerity measures announced came in the wake of rising public concern over the increased cost of living.

While civil societies lauded the move, many pointed out the government needed to do more to convince the people that it was reducing expenditure for the people’s benefit.

However, the government is now seeking an additional RM2.392 billion for its annual expenditure, and the Supplementary Supply Bill, which is being tabled for its second reading is expected to be passed later this evening.

The Prime Minister’s Department and Public Service Department are the agencies seeking the highest additional allocations of RM55.6 million and RM53.3 million respectively.

Sindrom Keliru Masih Landa Masyarakat


Oleh Adnan Jahaya

KUALA LUMPUR (Bernama) -- Menjelang pelaksanaan Cukai Barang dan Perkhidmatan (CBP/GST) kira-kira setahun lagi, ramai yang masih kabur dengannya malah ada yang dilanda sindrom keliru.

Sindrom keliru berlaku apabila masyarakat menerima pelbagai gambaran yang berbeza mengenai CBP yang akan berkuatkuasa mulai 1 April, 2015.

Ketika pihak kerajaan memberi gambaran sebenar mengenai CBP dan manfaat yang bakal diterima oleh rakyat namun ada pihak yang menggambarkannya sebagai 'hadiah' yang sepatutnya ditolak.

"Saya tak tahu apa sebenar CBP kerana banyak sangat yang memberi penjelasan. Kami jadi keliru," kata seorang peniaga kecil, Salleh Abdul Rahman.

Peniaga berusia 38 tahun dari Petaling Jaya itu berkata, mereka menerima penjelasan daripada pihak kerajaan dan sesekali mendapat maklumat yang disebut sebagai "benar" yang dihulurkan oleh pihak lain.

"Kami percaya dengan kerajaan tetapi kadang-kadang kami terpengaruh juga dengan penjelasan pihak lain berhubung kesan CBP," katanya.

SINDROM KELIRU

Salleh adalah antara ribuan atau mungkin jutaan rakyat Malaysia yang belum memahami secara jelas mengenai CBP malah ada dalam kalangan mereka dilanda sindrom keliru.

Sindrom keliru turut diakui sedang berlaku oleh Ketua Jabatan CBP di firma SALIHIN GST Services Sdn Bhd, Abdussalam Shokhawi berikutan ada pihak yang memusingkan fakta berkaitan CBP.

Beliau, yang juga Pengurus Projek CBP bagi firma yang berpejabat di Batu Cave, Selangor itu berkata, tinjauannya mendapati ramai kalangan rakyat negara ini tidak memahami sistem cukai menyebabkan mereka mudah dikelirukan.

"Mereka anggap CBP akan menghukum mereka dengan kenaikan harga barang. Mereka diyakinkan dengan perkara yang tidak benar," katanya kepada Bernama.

Abdussalam berkata, mereka sepatutnya sedar bahawa pada masa kini mereka juga membayar Cukai Jualan dan Cukai Perkhidmatan (SST) pada kadar 16 peratus.

Tidak ada alasan untuk mereka terus terbeban dengan SST yang di dalamnya ada cukai yang tersembunyi sedangkan kerajaan akan melaksanakan CBP dengan kadar enam peratus bagi mengurangkan bebanan hidup rakyat.

GAMBARAN NEGATIF TERHADAP CBP

Beliau berharap orang ramai tidak keliru dengan pihak yang cuba menakutkan mereka dengan mengeluarkan kenyataan negatif berhubung kesan CBP termasuk akan berlaku kenaikan harga barang.

Gambaran negatif mengenai CBP juga membuka peluang kepada para peniaga yang tamak untuk menaikkan harga barangan sedangkan hakikatnya kos barangan tidak meningkat kerana sistem percukaian baharu itu.

Abdussalam bimbang dengan tahap pemahaman yang masih rendah dalam kalangan rakyat negara ini terutama generasi muda terhadap CBP kerana ia mendorong mereka terus terjebak dengan sindrom keliru.

Contohnya, hasil tinjauan beliau, daripada 10 orang yang ditemubual, lima orang langsung tidak tahu mengenai CBP manakala lima lagi pernah mendengar mengenainya.

Daripada lima yang pernah mendengar, tiga daripadanya mempunyai pandangan yang berbeda malah mereka seolah-olah keliru dengan pandangan mereka sendiri.

RANG UNDANG-UNDANG 2014

Sebelum berkuatkuasa 1 April 2015, Rang Undang-Undang Cukai Barang dan Perkhidmatan 2014 dijadual akan dibentangkan pada mesyuarat pertama, penggal kedua Dewan Rakyat mulai 10 Mac ini.

Timbalan Menteri Kewangan Datuk Ahmad Maslan berkata proses penyediaan draf rang undang-undang itu kini di peringkat akhir dan sedang disemak oleh Peguam Negara.

Rang undang-undang itu perlu dibentang di Parlimen tahun ini juga bagi memastikan CBP dapat dilaksanakan tahun depan.

Pastinya banyak anggota parlimen yang akan mengambil bahagian pada perbahasan rang undang-undang itu dan rakyat boleh membuat penilaian mengenainya berdasarkan perbahasan itu.

CBP dilaksanakan oleh kira-kira 160 buah negara dengan Perancis menjadi negara pertama melaksanakannya pada 1954.

CONTOHI PELAKSNAAN CBP DI UK DAN SINGAPURA

Walaupun banyak negara telah melaksanakan CBP namun ada yang berpendapat Malaysia boleh mencontohi United Kingdom yang mengguna pakai sistem itu sejak 30 tahun lepas dan Singapura sejak 20 tahun.

Persatuan Akauntan Percukaian Malaysia (MATA) antara yang melihat United Kingdom dan Singapura sebagai negara boleh dicontohi pelaksanaan sistem percukaiannya terutama dalam menyediakan pakej berimbang.

Timbalan Pengarah Jawatankuasa Teknikal mengenai CBP persatuan itu, Mohd Rozlan Mohammed Ali berkata, kedua-dua negara itu mempunyai pengalaman tersendiri dalam membantu rakyat terutama yang berpendapatan rendah.

Contohnya, Singapura menyediakan sumbangan berbentuk dividen yang dimasukkan terus ke dalam akaun 'Central Provident Fund' rakyat, sebuah badan mirip Kumpulan Wang Simpanan Pekerja (KWSP).

United Kingdom pula memperkenalkan bantuan pakaian kepada kanak-kanak berusia 14 tahun dan ke bawah merangkumi pakaian sekolah bagi meringankan beban golongan miskin.

Apa pun Malaysia telah melaksanakan pakej berimbang termasuk meneruskan Bantuan Rakyat 1 Malaysia (BR1M), Bantuan Awal Persekolahan, Kedai Rakyat 1 Malaysia, Perumahan Rakyat 1 Malaysia dan banyak lagi.

Pastinya kerajaan akan meneruskan pelaksanaan program yang terbaik untuk rakyat meskipun masih wujud pandangan serong mengenai CBP.

KENALI DAN CINTAI CBP

Ada pepatah mengatakan "tak kenal maka tak cinta," begitu juga dengan CBP yang masih belum dikenali secara menyeluruh.

Sehubungan itu, program penerangan mengenai CBP perlu dilaksanakan secara menyeluruh dan mudah difahami ketika ada pihak yang masih berusaha untuk menggagalkannya.

Pelaksanaan CBP akan menjadi lebih mudah jika ia diterima oleh seluruh rakyat yang memahami kebaikannya dan manfaat yang bakal mereka nikmati.

Untuk memastikan rakyat menerima CBP, mereka perlu diberi penjelasan mengenai kesan positif perlaksanaannya temasuk pakej berimbang untuk rakyat.

Cabaran yang dihadapi oleh kerajaan ialah untuk merungkai kekeliruan yang mula bersarang akibat sentuhan kreatif pihak tertentu yang cuba menolak CBP.

Jika kekeliruan itu terungkai, rakyat pastinya tidak sabar menunggu kehadiran CBP dan jika rakyat sudah cinta terhadap CBP, tiada siapa yang dapat menghalang pelaksanaannya.

Persoalannya mampukah kerajaan menyingkirkan sindrom keliru yang turut bersarang dalam kalangan pemimpin komuniti sebelum CBP berkuatkuasa.

-- BERNAMA

Think-tank: Post-GST economic shocks may swamp low-wage earners


APRIL 2, 2014
A local think-tank Institut said lower-income earners may
struggle to cope with the ‘economic shocks’ arising from
the new Goods and Services Tax (GST). — Picture by Saw Siow Feng
KUALA LUMPUR, April 2 — Lower-income earners may struggle to cope with the “economic shocks” arising from the new Goods and Services Tax (GST), local think-tank Institut Rakyat said today.

Pointing out that Malaysians at the bottom end are already feeling the pinch after the government’s cut back on subsidies, Institut Rakyat warned that the imposition of the 6 per cent consumption tax across the board could engulf the group’s finances.

“With rising inflation due largely to subsidy rollbacks and a likely economic recession by 2016, Institut Rakyat is concerned that lower income households will not be able to withstand economic shocks if GST is implemented,” Institut Rakyat said in a statement today.

In a policy brief on the GST, Institut Rakyat explained that currently most Malaysian taxpayers did not earn enough to pay personal income tax.

“Only 1.8 million people earn enough to pay personal income tax, equivalent to only 28 per cent of total 6.4 million registered individual taxpayers or 14 per cent of the overall workforce,” it said, adding that income growth does not match the rise in cost of living.

It claimed that GST was “regressive” as lower wage-earners will fork out a higher percentage of their income to pay for goods and services, compared to those who earn more.

While noting the current Sales and Services Tax (SST) will be abolished and replaced with the consumption tax, Institut Rakyat said Malaysians would have a “bigger taxable scope” where “almost” everything they buy will be subject to the GST compared to the smaller list previously.

In the same policy brief, Institut Rakyat executive director Azrul Azwar Ahmad Tajudin calculated that Putrajaya would spend an estimated RM19.31 billion just to implement the new system, leaving the federal government with just roughly RM3.87 billion after collecting gross revenue of RM23.18 billion.

Azrul broke down the RM19.31 billion cost into an estimated RM14.4 billion lost through the abolishing of the SST system, RM2.42 billion in tax deductions and exemptions, and a further RM2.49 billion to assist Malaysians in switching to the new system.

The economist then questioned if it was worth putting into place the GST system to get a “rather small amount” of RM3.87 billion in estimated net tax revenue.

The think-tank also questioned Putrajaya’s “moral legitimacy” to collect more taxes, pointing out that an annual audit showed that the government lost between RM28 billion and RM40 billion each year due to “rampant leakages and wastage”.

The amount wasted is “nearly ten times” more than the expected tax collection under the GST, Institut Rakyat said.

“Why is the federal government not prioritising greater savings from curbing leakage and wastage identified by the Auditor-General’s Report?” Azrul asked.

The think-tank proposed that Putrajaya consider other methods to balance its accounts instead, including finding income through more sources, cutting down on spending and eliminating “corrupt practices”.

On Monday, the federal government finally tabled the controversial Goods and Services Tax Bill after a six-year hiatus.

The consumption tax is expected to be implemented next April if Parliament approves it, but Azrul is already looking ahead, saying that Putrajaya would likely raise it from the “introductory rate” of six per cent eventually.

“What is the federal government’s timeline and conditions for retaining GST at 6 per cent or increasing/ decreasing it?” he asked, having conceded earlier that Malaysia’s proposed rate is currently the lowest among all South-east Asian countries.

- See more at: http://www.themalaymailonline.com/malaysia/article/think-tank-post-gst-economic-shocks-may-swamp-low-wage-earners#sthash.kGao4oEO.dpuf