Open tenders can boost national revenue, says Ahmad Maslan

 

Deputy finance minister Ahmad Maslan says the government’s other measures to raise its income level includes strengthening enforcement to reduce leakages.

SHAH ALAM: The implementation of an open tender policy will lead to cost reduction for the government while boosting national income, says deputy finance minister Ahmad Maslan.

He said the policy represented one of the unity government’s main approaches to bolstering national income, as announced by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim previously.

“As an example, a direct negotiation (tender) may be valued at RM50 million, but with the open tender policy, it may be priced at RM45 million.

“From this, the government would be able to record RM5 million as an income, and this is an example of what is being implemented.

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“Indirectly, this raises our national income. If direct negotiation is selected, there is usually a certain percentage which is higher than that in the open tender approach,” he told reporters after a Budget 2023 Dialogue here.

Ahmad said other approaches include strengthening enforcement to reduce leakages, particularly in terms of smuggled liquor and cigarettes, as well as helping companies to pay their taxes instead of chasing them.

He noted that, recently, the Inland Revenue Board (LHDN) revealed that only three million out of 32 million Malaysians had paid their taxes, while only 400,000 companies and businesses out of one million micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) in the country were active in paying taxes in the same period.

In other developments, he said to ensure the process of preparing Budget 2023 was transparent and inclusive, his ministry welcomed the involvement of all levels of society.

The public can provide suggestions and views at the special budget web page at www.mof.gov.my until Feb 10. - FMT