MALAYSIANS UPSET & ANGRY: Prices of 85% of daily necessities shoot up on 1st day of GST

KUALA LUMPUR - Checks by The Rakyat Post found that prices for almost 85% of daily necessities have increased following the implementation of Goods and Services Tax (GST) today.

Among the goods subjected to GST are stationary, condoms, mineral water, bicarbonate water, cereal, toiletries, biscuits, milk and olive oil.

Products which are exempted include fruits, rice, vegetables, sugar, flour, cooking oil, eggs, chicken, fish and aspirin.

Restaurant operator Khairil Azlan Yusof, 25, said he was against the GST because it burdened his customers.

“I sell nasi lemak. Do you agree that you have to pay GST just for having a packet of nasi lemak and a glass of ice tea? Obviously nobody will agree.

“That is why I disagree with charging GST on daily food because it is not relevant. If they are charging GST on expensive food, then I do not mind because we don’t go to those expensive restaurants every day,” he said.

Although today was the first day the tax was implemented, Khairil Azlan said, as a trader, he could already feel its impact on prices of goods.

“The prices of all necessities have increased. Only prices of rice, cooking oil and eggs have not increased. So, just because my customers want to save money, do they have to eat ‘nasi bujang’ (rice with fried egg) every day when the ministers are having their meals at five-star hotels?”

Ngeow Xuan Ying, 19, expressed her disappointment with the implementation of GST as the rate was “too much”.

She said as a student, she could not even afford to pay for items at a normal price, but now it was more expensive with GST.

“For us, the 6% GST charge is too much and as a result, food prices at restaurants have increased, as well as groceries.”

Her friend, Victoria Chai, 20, on the other hand believes that after the implementation of GST, the public will spend less in order to save their money.

Malaysia, she said, was not ready for the implementation of GST because the people have low income.

“Developed countries, such as the United States, Singapore and countries in the Europe, can implement GST because their incomes are much higher compared to us in Malaysia.

“In Malaysia, we have people who earn less than RM1,000 a month. How are they going to survive?”

Meanwhile, Sean Siow, 20, said he could already feel the increase of prices on the first day of the GST implementation.

He said while the people could not see the long-term effects of GST yet, he could already feel the impact on the first day.

“Prices of goods are increasing when we actually know that prices of goods are supposed to be decreasing with the implementation of GST.

Honestly, I think GST is bad for Malaysians. If GST has its benefits, what are the benefits for consumers like us who have to pay more?” he said.

Janice Lau, 60, told The Rakyat Post that she had to start saving after the implementation of GST.

“Prices of goods are more expensive and my salary is not that high. I don’t mind if the government wants to implement GST, but make sure our salaries are increased first.

“Before GST, I had to pay RM6 for eating rice and vegetables. It does not including meat, chicken or fish. So now after GST, I have to choose what I am going to eat. I have to find cheap food. How am I supposed to be healthy?” - Therakyatpost