‘Hand-holding’ training requested on tax system

KUALA LUMPUR: Businessmen and traders have requested for “hand-holding” training on Goods and Services Tax, with only nine months left to its implementation.

Newly appointed Deputy Finance Minister Datuk Chua Tee Yong said this was one of the requests made to him yesterday during a meeting with five associations on the new tax system.

The groups were the Selangor and Federal Territory Engineering and Motor Parts Traders Association, the Kuala Lumpur Fruits Wholesalers Association, the Penang SMI Association, the SMI Association of Malaysia and the the Federation of Automobile Workshop Owners’ Association of Malaysia.

Also present at the meeting at Wisma MCA was MCA’s SME bureau chairman Datuk Ei Kim Hock.

Chua, who is also MCA vice-president and Economic Consultative Committee chairman, said the associations had asked for leniency during the early stages of GST implementation.

SMI Association of Malaysia deputy president Michael Kang said many of its members were confused with the procedures of the new system.

“We hope that the Government will conduct hand-holding training for us,” he said, adding that GST seminars were now focusing on creating awareness.