THERE have been recent public outcry and protests against the imposition of the goods and services tax (GST) on the maintenance charges and sinking fund for all stratified developments in Malaysia save for low- and medium-cost stratified development areas which were recently “exempted” from GST under the gazetted GST Exempt Supply Order dated Oct 13, 2014.
Do they not know that to grant “exemption status” is a misfortune? Do they not know the repercussion? It literally means that there would be no relief to the lower income group, despite their residential developments being listed under the “exempt supply list”. The Government thinks that it has relieved those living in low- and low-medium cost stratified units and therefore the owners should be happy. But the reality is they are now forced to increase their maintenance collection by 6% because they have to pay higher bills to their service providers, contractors, suppliers and utilities, among others, for the maintenance and management of the common property.