Traders still need to submit GST tax returns for now

The Royal Malaysian Customs Department says traders who have registered under the Goods and Services Tax (GST) system need to submit their GST 03 statements or tax returns even though the GST has been zero rated since June 1.

Its Kedah director Johari Alifiah said a number of companies and traders had not done so probably because of some confusion over whether the tax return should necessarily be submitted, now that GST is zero rated.

"Companies and traders need to submit the GST-03 statement as it is still effective until the Sales and Services Tax (SST) is enforced in September,” he told reporters in Alor Setar today.

He said about 15,000 traders in Kedah were registered in the GST system, where 95 percent had submitted their GST-03 returns.

Earlier, Indian Community Affairs, Unity, Consumerism and Cooperative Affairs Committee chairperson R Summugam launched a Festive Season Price Control event at Pasar Besar Alor Setar.

Meanwhile, the Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Ministry’s state director Mohamad Fitri Hassan said 18 complaints had been received and one notice issued, under Section 21 of the Price Control and Anti-Profiteering Act 2011, since the implementation of the zero-rated GST on June 1.

"We inspected 789 premises throughout Kedah involving 23,670 goods. Eleven of the complaints were about unchanged prices despite the zero-rated GST and two misunderstandings between traders and customers over the new rate.

"The remaining cases involved price increase and confusion over products that are GST-free such as vegetables and fruits,” he said.

Hari Raya price controls for Labuan

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism (KPDNKK) has fixed the maximum price for 18 controlled items for 15 days, from June 8 to 22, in conjunction with Aidilfitri.

KPDNKK Labuan enforcement chief Mohd Fikri Lai Abdullah said the scheme would be implemented in accordance with the Price Control and Anti-Profiteering Act 2011.

Aidilfitri is expected to fall on June 15 (1 Syawal).

The items include live chicken, standard chicken, super chicken, local beef, imported beef imported buffalo meat, chicken eggs grades A, B and C, red chillies and tomatoes.

Other items are red chilli, tomato, imported round cabbage, whole coconuts, grated coconut, shallots (India), imported onions, garlic (China), imported potatoes (China), mackerel including mabung (seven to 10 pieces per kilogramme) and scad (ikan selayang).

Fikri warned traders that stern action would be taken against them, should they fail to observe the regulations under the scheme, including a fine of up to RM100,000 and imprisonment for individuals and a fine of up to RM500,000 for companies.

He said enforcement officers from the ministry would be assigned to monitor the situation during the period.

- Bernama