PRU ke-13 akan pengaruhi persekitaran ekonomi

ARKIB : 29/10/2010

KUALA LUMPUR 28 Okt. - Persekitaran ekonomi negara pada tahun depan akan lebih dipengaruhi oleh persediaan kerajaan untuk menghadapi Pilihan Raya Umum ke-13.

Ketua Pegawai Eksekutif MIDF Amanah Asset Management Bhd. (MIDF Amanah), Scott Lim berkata, ini dapat dilihat dalam beberapa keputusan berkaitan ekonomi semasa dan juga pembentangan Bajet 2011 baru-baru ini.

Katanya, mungkin beberapa keputusan yang menarik berkaitan perniagaan bakal diumumkan kelak dalam usaha pemerintah mengekalkan kuasa termasuk penangguhan pelaksanaan cukai barangan dan perkhidmatan (GST).

"Ekonomi negara juga akan terus berkembang dipengaruhi situasi ekonomi global ketika ini yang menggambarkan peningkatan prestasi negara-negara Asia seperti peningkatan perdagangan sesama negara Asia.

Beliau berkata demikian selepas membentangkan pandangannya tentang jangkaan ekonomi negara dalam seminar anjuran MIDF Amanah di sini hari ini.

Seminar yang sama akan turut diadakan di beberapa lokasi lain dalam negara mulai esok iaitu di Pulau Pinang, Kuching (11 November) dan Kota Kinabalu (15 November).

Jelas Lim, walaupun Bajet 2011 tidak mampu menyelesaikan pelbagai masalah yang wujud ketika ini seperti kemiskinan dan kekurangan tenaga pakar tetapi terdapat usaha yang dilakukan untuk menanganinya.

Katanya, perancangan kerajaan bagi menyediakan pelbagai infrastruktur tidak merugikan kerana ia menggalakkan ekonomi.

"Apa yang harus ditekankan ialah ketelusan dalam membuat keputusan kerana ia lebih mempengaruhi keberkesanan terhadap pelbagai dasar ekonomi yang dirancang," ujarnya.

Pada masa sama, beliau berpandangan, setiap pelabur yang ingin mencari peluang keuntungan perlu mempelbagaikan pelaburan mereka termasuk melabur di dalam dan luar negara.

Artikel Penuh: http://www.utusan.com.my/utusan/info.asp?y=2010&dt=1029&pub=utusan_malaysia&sec=Ekonomi&pg=ek_02.htm#ixzz2WRsucnrq
© Utusan Melayu (M) Bhd 

GST a useful tool to reduce Malaysia’s budget deficit

by Ronnie Teo. Posted on October 27, 2010, Wednesday

KUCHING: Putting the Goods and Services Tax (GST) on a pedestal after the unveiling of Budget 2011 was necessary as it could be the platform for the country to leap to a higher level of development and income through the build-up of budget surpluses.

TAX HIGHLIGHTS: (From left) Ernst & Young partner Victor Fong, 
Azhar, Wan, Koh, Ng and Thong posing for a photo session during 
the talk at a leading hotel in Kuching yesterday.

This topic was the highlight of the 2011 Budget Seminar organised by Ernst & Young Tax Consultants Sdn Bhd (Ernst & Young) held at a leading hotel here yesterday.

“The announcement made before Budget Day (October 15) on the postponement of the implementation of GST tells us that GST is on,” said Ernst & Young partner Azhar Lee. “The only guessing game now is the time frame for implementation.”

He continued to highlight that with Malaysia’s budget being in a deficit successively for almost fourteen years, GST could be an effective tool to reduce the country’s deficit.

“By comparison, countries that have value-added tax (VAT) or GST in place appear to be able to manoeuvre their budgets more successfully. We seem to be in a sea of countries where GST is implemented – look at the Philippines and Vietnam.

“Malaysia’s estimated budget deficit budget for 2011 at 5.4 per cent is unattractive. It shows a lack of confidence in the market.

“We are living in a subsidy economy and more effort should be put into making our economy more transparent with focus on market play rather than be dependent on subsidies,” he noted..

Azhar pointed out that the country needed to be more independent in terms of dependency on the global economy, giving prime examples such as China and India that faced relatively cushioned effects when the global economic crisis hit a few years back.

“On the other hand, Malaysia and Singapore are very much affected when setbacks occur in major countries such as the Unites States and Europe. From this, we can see how tied we are to the global economy.”

Customs deputy director and GST Review Panel, Wan Leng Whatt affirmed this view, adding that Malaysians need a better understanding of the GST across industries before the tax could be implemented.

“The reason why the GST implementation was postponed was most probably due to the fact that we feel more preparation and understanding need to be done for businesses and the public in general to understand the implications,” Wan said.

The need to widen the country’s tax base was made obvious by the proposal to increase service tax from five to six per cent, said Ernst & Young director Koh Siok Kiat.

“Although this is a clever move so as not to unduly burden the people at this juncture, perhaps GST should be considered in the long run,” he said.

“With the existing services tax in effect in the country, we can see that there are many weak spots and a lot of issues to deal with. GST is more efficient in this context. However, to replace one with the other requires more understanding by corporations and the public.”

Ernst & Young partner, Julie Thong, focusing on the effects of Budget 2011 on corporate tax, said, “Despite no major changes which affect companies being introduced in this budget, taxpayers should nevertheless take note of various extensions to existing incentives for some activities.”

This, she pointed out, included renewable energy activities, reduction of greenhouse emissions and approved food production projects.

“In addition, businesses should take note of some subtle changes made in respect of reinvestment allowances as well as the penalty on withholding tax.”

Ernst & Young director Ng Siaw Wei covered the topicsof personal tax while Koh divulged more on the intricacies of indirect tax in the seminar.

Read more: http://www.theborneopost.com/2010/10/27/gst-a-useful-tool-to-reduce-malaysia%e2%80%99s-budget-deficit/#ixzz2dPhqQU1W

Bankrupts should be given a second chance - FOMCA

ARKIB : 22/10/2010

PETALING JAYA Oct 21 — The Federation of Malaysian Consumers Association (Fomca) fully supports the government’s move to give bankrupts a second chance to redeem themselves.

Its secretary-general, Muhammad Shaani Abdullah said this was in view of the fact that more young people were being declared bankrupts and they needed to be “salvaged” rather than being condemned for rest of their lives.

He was commenting on the announcement by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, in the 2011 budget that the government would assist such bankrupts.

He said the major reason for them to be declared bankrupt was because they over spent using their credit cards.

Perhaps, the government should introduce “money management studies” in schools to teach young children how to manage their funds,” he said.

Muhammad Shaani said adults should also be careful in spending and should not be tempted by offers from companies and avoid unnecessary purchases.

He suggested that institutions of higher learning should also emphasise on soft skills like communications, conflict management, self motivation, time management and leadership to prepare their students for the “real world” He said Fomca was disappointed that the budget did not spell out the measures for a social safety net for consumers in view of the reduction in subsidies and the proposed Goods and Services Tax (GST).

He also suggested that the poor and the marginalized should be protected by providing them food stamps and special subsidies for housing, education, transportation and health services.

Muhammad Shaani said the government should also strive to reduce the toll from all highways as it was a burden to consumers.

While Fomca was happy that the government recognized the role played by Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), he said it nevertheless was disappointed that consumer bodies were not given their due cognizance as they played a vital role in educating and helping consumers to make the right choices.

BERNAMA

Artikel Penuh: http://www.utusan.com.my/utusan/info.asp?y=2010&dt=1022&pub=themessenger&sec=Home_News&pg=hn_01.htm#ixzz2WdMZYJFt
© Utusan Melayu (M) Bhd 

Persediaan awal pelaksanaan GST

ARKIB : 20/10/2010

Oleh AHMAD FADZIL ZAINOL ARIFFIN
bisnes@utusan.com.my

KUALA LUMPUR 19 Okt. – Peningkatan cukai perkhidmatan daripada lima kepada enam peratus dilihat sebagai persediaan awal kerajaan sebelum melaksanakan Cukai Barang dan Perkhidmatan (GST).

Pengarah Eksekutif Baker Tilly Monteiro Heng Tax Services Sdn. Bhd., Chan Kee Hoong berkata, pendekatan tersebut dilakukan supaya rakyat tidak berasa asing setelah GST dilaksanakan kelak memandangkan sistem cukai tersebut bakal menyaksikan peningkatan harga beberapa jenis barangan.

Menurutnya, pendekatan seumpama itu turut dipraktikkan negara lain apabila mahu menggantikan sistem cukainya kepada GST.

“Ia merupakan satu langkah bijak oleh kerjaan. Tetapi apa yang agak membantutkan pelaksanaannya adalah persediaan rakyat untuk menghadapinya.

“Kerajaan seharusnya kerap menerangkan kepada rakyat mengenai GST melalui seminar, hebahan media serta pengedaran risalah informasi agar mereka lebih memahaminya” katanya kepada Utusan Malaysia di sini hari ini.

Semasa pembentangan Bajet 2011, Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak telah mengumumkan cukai perkhidmatan ke atas semua perkhidmatan yang dikenakan cukai sebelum ini meningkat kepada enam peratus berbanding lima peratus pada masa ini.

Kata Kee Hong, peningkatan cukai sebanyak satu peratus itu mendatangkan pendapatan kira-kira RM600 juta kepada kerajaan.

Walaupun pelaksanaan GST ditangguhkan, tetapi beliau yakin GST akan tetap dilaksanakan satu hari nanti.

Tambahnya, cadangan pelaksanaan GST pada kadar empat peratus adalah munasabah kerana ia bermula pada paras yang rendah, tambahan pula ia baru diperkenalkan.

“Seperti Singapura, pada awal pelaksanaan GST di negara itu, kadarnya adalah tiga peratus dan ketika ini menjadi tujuh peratus. Bagaimanapun ia mengambil masa panjang bagi peningkatan itu berlaku.” ujarnya.

Berdasarkan pengalaman beberapa negara lain, beliau tidak menafikan harga sesetengah barangan akan meningkat melalui pelaksanaan GST dan ia memakan masa kepada rakyat untuk mengadaptasi perubahan tersebut.

“Saya mencadangkan setelah GST dilaksanakan, cukai-cukai lain seperti cukai pendapatan, cukai individu dan cukai korporat dikurangkan bagi mengimbangi bebanan rakyat,” katanya.

Pada masa sama, beliau menjangkakan barangan keperluan harian seperti beras dan tepung masih dikawal sekalipun GST dilaksanakan.

Kee Hoong turut memuji pengurangan duti import ke atas kira-kira 300 barangan kegemaran pelancong dan rakyat tempatan kerana ia menggalakkan aktiviti ekonomi domestik dan menjadikan negara sebagai pusat membeli-belah dan pelancongan yang kompetitif di rantau Asia Tenggara.

Bagaimanapun, beliau berkata, kerajaan sepatutnya menyediakan insentif kepada sektor swasta bagi melatih dan menyediakan tenaga mahir tempatan kerana ia bakal menggalakkan mereka (swasta) membangunkan kepakaran di dalam sektor masing-masing.

Dan pada masa sama, beliau mahu kerajaan berusaha membawa pulang tenaga kerja mahir di luar negara kerana pengalaman serta kepakaran mereka boleh dikongsi bersama dengan tenaga kerja tempatan yang lain.

Artikel Penuh: http://www.utusan.com.my/utusan/info.asp?y=2010&dt=1020&pub=utusan_malaysia&sec=Ekonomi&pg=ek_05.htm#ixzz2WRsb23Uu
© Utusan Melayu (M) Bhd 

Malaysia’s Goods and Services Tax lowest in the region

Posted on October 20, 2010, Wednesday

KUCHING: The Goods and Services Tax (GST) is generally not a cost to businesses making taxable supplies as the input tax on direct and indirect goods and services are creditable.

With the implementation of GST, it will help to avoid tax cascading, multiple taxation and transfer pricing bias which are proven to be inefficient over the years of implementation.

“Based on a study, the inflationary pressure is expected to be negative,” said the executive director of PricewaterhouseCoopers Taxation Services Sdn Bhd, Fan Kah Seong.

In comparing the standard GST rate in the region, Fan said that the GST that will be implemented in Malaysia is the lowest in the region.

He said that even though the government had postponed the bill, it has not withdrawn the bill and the GST would remain a long-term policy of the government.

Under the GST bill, business’ sales turnover of more than RM500,000 a year must obtain licences for GST. Companies are advised to apply for the GST licence three months before the GST implementation date to avoid any complications.

As for the types of products that attract GST, Fan noted that most supply of goods and services attract GST unless exempted by the government.

According to the GST bill, the government has outlined zero rate supplies; which are taxable supplies that are subject to zero rate and exempt supplies; which are not subjected to GST but suppliers cannot claim GST incurred on business inputs.

The supplies that have been outlined by the government under the GST bill that qualified for the zero rate and exempt supplies were mostly the necessities of the people.

On another note, he said that GST will also be covering importation, which included payment to foreign service providers.

In giving his personal estimation, Fan said that the possible timeline for the implementation of the GST was in 2013 and it was unlikely that the GST would be implemented in 2011.

Read more: http://www.theborneopost.com/2010/10/20/malaysia%e2%80%99s-goods-and-services-tax-lowest-in-the-region/#ixzz2dPotY6N1

Penangguhan GST disambut baik

ARKIB : 15/10/2010

KUALA LUMPUR 14 Okt. - Pengumuman Kementerian Kewangan semalam untuk menangguhkan pelaksanaan Cukai Barang dan Perkhidmatan (GST) disambut baik ramai pihak yang menganggapnya sebagai tindakan tepat oleh kerajaan dalam melindungi kepentingan rakyat.

Pensyarah Kuliyyah Ekonomi dan Sains Pengurusan Universiti Islam Antarabangsa Malaysia (UIAM), Prof. Madya Dr. Asyraf Wajdi Dasuki berkata, walaupun pelaksanaan GST diperakui mampu meningkatkan pendapatan negara tetapi kajian mendalam terhadap impaknya kepada kuasa beli rakyat perlu dijalankan terlebih dahulu.

"Banyak pihak mempertikaikan GST kerana mekanisme pelaksanaannya yang dilihat kurang jelas dan boleh menjejaskan kuasa beli rakyat memandangkan kos sara hidup di negara ini secara umumnya masih tinggi.

"Saya berpendapat buat masa ini GST bukanlah satu keperluan kerana fokus kerajaan sepatutnya adalah merangsang pertumbuhan ekonomi melalui kaedah meningkatkan penggunaan domestik iaitu kuasa beli rakyat," katanya ketika dihubungi di sini hari ini.

Beliau berkata demikian ketika diminta mengulas pengumuman penangguhan GST semalam bagi membolehkan rundingan lebih inklusif dengan semua lapisan masyarakat diadakan.

Kementerian Kewangan dalam kenyataannya memaklumkan langkah itu diambil kerajaan yang mahu mengambil kira kepentingan dan kebajikan setiap lapisan masyarakat supaya pelaksanaan GST kelak diterima baik oleh semua pihak.

Dalam pada itu, Presiden Gabungan Pelajar Melayu Semenanjung (GPMS), Jais Abdul Karim berpendapat GST kurang sesuai dilaksanakan buat masa ini dalam keadaan ekonomi yang masih dalam proses pemulihan.

"Saya mencadangkan GST ditangguhkan sekurang-kurangnya untuk tempoh lima tahun bagi membolehkan kajian mendalam dijalankan," ujarnya.

Presiden Kongres Kesatuan Sekerja Malaysia (MTUC), Syed Shahrir Syed Mohamud turut menyambut baik langkah penangguhan pelaksanaan GST yang disifatkan sebagai beban terbaru yang perlu digalas rakyat terutama golongan berpendapatan rendah.