KUALA LUMPUR July 6, 2011: The Government will not introduce goods and services tax (GST) any time soon without first getting the support of the public.
“There should not be any cause for alarm even if there is a decision to introduce the GST tomorrow.
“It will take at least 18 months for it to be fully in place,” said Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Idris Jala.
Speaking to reporters yesterday after the announcement of the Government's six Strategic Reform Initiatives (SRIs) to boost the nation's global competitiveness, he said public engagement and education were necessary before any decision was made.
“We want to make sure the public fully understands and is supportive of the GST before it is implemented,” he said.
Other factors such as the introduction of anti-profiteering laws and recalibrating of sales accounting systems by thousands of retailers were also needed, he said.
Idris, who is Performance Management and Delivery Unit (Pemandu) chief executive officer, hit out at certain quarters for portraying the GST as being a burden for the lower-income group and the poor.
“Many people have spun stories saying that it will hurt the poor and the lower-income group.
“This is absolutely not true as all staple food such as sugar, rice and flour would be exempted from the GST,” he said.
He said the exemption could also be expanded to cover public transport.
He also took to task those who claimed that Pemandu had misled the public over the Government's subsidy cuts.
He said that only “bad subsidy” was reduced while “good subsidies” such as those related to education and health were maintained.
what is the "bad subsidy"?
BalasPadamPastikan Rakyat menjadi fokus utama.
BalasPadamSemoga ekonomi negara semakin membangun.
BalasPadamThe Government will not introduce goods and services tax (GST) any time soon without first getting the support of the public.
BalasPadamAdakah rakyat akan menyokong GST ini sedangkan kenaikan harga minyak dan barang2 lain pun sudah rasa terbeban.
apakah peranan GST ini dalam hal pembangunan negara khususnya kepada rakyat jelata?
BalasPadamThe eye sees only what the mind is prepared to comprehend...
BalasPadamsituasi masa kini di mana pemotongan subsidi dan kenaikan harga barangan tidak memungkinkan rakyat akan menerima GST..harus ada kesinambungan di antara pendapatan rakyat dengan perlaksanaan GST agar tidak membebankan rakyat.
BalasPadamseharusnya dasar gaji minimum diberi perhatian sebelum mahu melaksanakan polisi2 yang bagi rakyat amat membebankan..
BalasPadamkalau GST dilaksanakan tanpa sokongan rakyat, kerajaan BN pasti akan tumbang..
BalasPadamjadi, bagaimanakah kerajaan mahu 'memujuk' rakyat agar GST dapat dilaksanakan?
BalasPadamBukankah lebih baik kalau gaji minimum dilaksanakan dulu. hehhe
BalasPadamAt least, sebarang polisi yang mahu dibuat tidak lah terlalu memberi tekanan. Apapun, pastikan kepentingan rakyat sentiasa diutamakan.
BalasPadamGST must be reviewed.
BalasPadamyang penting apa pun yang dilaksanakan pastikan ianya mengambilkira kemampuan dan keperluan rakyat.
BalasPadamApa kebaikan GST ini kepada rakyat dan ekonomi negara? Harap diperjelaskan dengan lebih lanjut agar rakyat faham.
BalasPadamRakyat trauma sudah dengan kenaikan harga barang pada masa kini. Jadi bila timbul isu GST, tambahlah rakyat gusar.
BalasPadamapapun polisi yang hendak diperkenalkan, pastikan ia tak bebankan rakyat.
BalasPadamMungkin kerajaan prlu bijak melaksanakan satu langkah lain untuk membantu rakyat. Mungkin GST ini satu idea yang baik tapi sebaiknya apa yang rakyat dapat dalam GST ini?
BalasPadamGST should be implemented after Minimum Wage Scheme enforced..
BalasPadamAda GST pun baik jugalah. Orang yang tidak pernah bersumbang kepada cukai seperti PATI turut terlibat dalam pembayaran GST.
BalasPadam