GST: Syarikat perniagaan perlu persediaan awal

ARKIB : 23/11/2010

KUALA LUMPUR 22 Nov. - Syarikat perniagaan perlu membuat persediaan awal sekurang-kurangnya enam bulan sebelum pelaksanaan sistem Cukai Barang dan Perkhidmatan (GST) di negara ini.

Pengarah Biro Ekonomi Dewan Perdagangan Islam Malaysia (DPIM), Mohammad Sahar Mat Din berkata, masyarakat perdagangan di negara ini perlu memandang serius mengenai GST agar ia dapat dilakukan dengan betul dan tepat.

Beliau berkata, banyak tanggapan salah di kalangan orang ramai mengenai GST sedangkan ia telah dilaksanakan dengan berkesan di kebanyakan negara.

"Pelaksanaan GST di negara ini sebenarnya mengambil kira kepentingan rakyat melalui kadar cukai yang lebih rendah dan keperluan asas tertentu juga dikecualikan daripada cukai.

"Banyak kesan negatif juga akan dialami oleh sesebuah perniagaan jika mereka tidak dapat melaksanakan GST apabila ia dikuatkuasakan kelak," katanya pada sidang akhbar selepas Seminar Aplikasi GST kepada Perniagaan: Satu Pengenalan di sini hari ini.

Seramai 110 peserta terdiri daripada pengurusan atasan organisasi dan ahli akademik mengikuti seminar tersebut yang bertujuan memberi pendedahan tentang GST.

Turut hadir pada seminar itu ialah Presiden Persatuan Akauntan Percukaian Malaysia (Mata), Abd. Aziz Abu Bakar; pemilik Aftaas Taxation Services Sdn. Bhd., Afrizan Tarmili Khairul Azhar; Pengarah Projek Kanan, Urusetia Panel Kajian Semula Cukai, Kementerian Kewangan, Mohd. Roslan Mat Lodin dan Timbalan Pengarah Kastam (Unit Tugas-tugas Khas GST), T. Subromaniam.

Mohammad Sahar berkata, seminar yang julung kali diadakan itu dengan kerjasama Mata dan Aftaas serta diuruskan oleh Institut Pembangunan Pengurusan Johor (IPPJ), akan diadakan lagi supaya masyarakat lebih faham tentang GST.

Sementara itu, Mohd. Roslan berkata, GST bertujuan memperbaiki sistem percukaian dan kadarnya akan lebih rendah daripada kadar semasa.

"Pada masa ini, sebanyak 146 negara di dunia telah melaksanakan GST. Banyak faedah yang boleh diperoleh daripada GST jika orang ramai memahami bagaimana ia berjalan," ujarnya.

Maklumat lanjut mengenai GST boleh diperoleh di laman web www.gst.customs.gov.my.

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Fighting budget deficit top priority for govt - Muhyiddin

ARKIB : 13/11/2010

TOKYO Nov 12 — Fighting budget deficit will be the top priority for the Malaysian government which is proposing several policy changes to resolve it, said Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin today.

For instance, the proposed introduction of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) was a significant move as Malaysia was one of the last Asian economies without a comprehensive consumption tax.

"Although the GST has been postponed, we will continue educating the public on the subject and we will implement it in due course,” he said when opening the “Invest Malaysia 2010” seminar here.

Muhyiddin said the government would continue to manage its deficit judiciously by keeping it at 5.4 per cent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) for the 2011 Budget compared with 5.6 per cent in the 2010 Budget.

Limiting the scope of the government, he said, it was considering ways to further reduce the subsidy bill, which in recent years has been equivalent to the budget deficit.

“We acknowledge that as a result, fuel and gas prices have to go up and the private sector will have to adjust to fewer government handouts. But while the timing can be discussed, we know that change is inevitable,” he said.

He said addressing the fiscal position was probably the most politically challenging item on the government”s reform agenda.

"But it is worth keeping in mind that the robust economic recovery and higher crude oil prices will improve the government”s revenue collection in the coming years,” he said.

In his address to the seminar participants comprising fund managers and market players, Muhyiddin touched on the vibrancy of the Malaysian capital market which he said was expected to continue, fuelled by increased activities in the areas of mergers and acquisitions and initial public offerings (IPOs).

The Deputy Prime Minister said Malaysia would continue to address issues of concern to investors such as free float and size of companies while at the same time continue to internationalise the market.

On privatisation, Muhyiddin said a further round would attract additional inbound portfolio flows by increasing the size and listing selection of Bursa Malaysia.

"We will encourage the entrance of larger cap companies to the exchange such as Maxis, which was re-listed late last year with a market capitalisation of close to US$12 billion,” he added. — BERNAMA

Artikel Penuh: http://www.utusan.com.my/utusan/info.asp?y=2010&dt=1113&pub=themessenger&sec=Home_News&pg=hn_11.htm#ixzz2WdM7mWrv
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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
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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
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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
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