Revisiting single-tier tax on dividends

Malaysia should tax the dividends repatriated to foreign multinational corporations and foreign shareholders with equity stakes in companies listed on Bursa Malaysia.

BASED on Bursa Malaysia’s total market capitalisation of just over RM2 trillion, and with a dividend yield of approximately 4%, Corporate Malaysia is essentially dishing out some RM80bil in dividend payout alone to shareholders annually.

Of course, a significant portion of these dividends goes to the major shareholders, including local institutions, entrepreneurs (for family-owned businesses) that are the main drivers of the business, as well as foreign shareholders.