Don’t twist the facts on GST, says Najib

Speaking at the launch of the ETP Annual Report in KL yesterday, Najib stressed on the GST implementation and its benefits. - Reuters pic, May 12, 2014.Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak hit out at irresponsible people who attempted to twist the facts on the impending Goods and Services Tax (GST) which in actual fact will help rake in more revenue for the country and not burden the people.

He said the people need not worry over the implementation of the new tax as a majority of the daily essential goods and services would not attract the GST.

"As an example, GST will not be imposed on essential consumer goods such as rice, sugar, salt, flour, cooking oil, salted fish, bus, rail and light rail transit fares, education and health services," he said in his speech in conjunction with the release of the Government Transformation Programme and Economic Transformation Programme 2013 Annual Reports in Kuala Lumpur tonight.

The GST, which will be implemented at a rate of 6% on April 1, 2015 will replace the Sales and Services Tax and is a systematic tax structure based on how much one spends daily.

Najib, who is also Finance Minister, assured that he would constantly listen to feedback from the people on the implementation of the GST.

"I have directed the Ministry of Finance to widely disseminate the real facts on the GST via seminars by inviting experts from countries which have successfully implemented the tax to explain the true facts," he said.

The prime minister said Malaysia was on the right development track although it faced many domestic challenges and global economic uncertainty the past four years.

The government is also focusing on the welfare and well-being of women entrepreneurs in the country via training and developing them under the National Key Economic Area.

"Opportunities have been created for them to venture into agriculture, services, fisheries, manufacturing, family and business.

"In this context, women entrepreneurs refer to those who earn a net income of RM3,500 a month for three consecutive months.

"Todate, 5,300 trained women entrepreneurs have been created," Najib added. – Bernama