Selangor to request for GST exemption for local councils

SHAH ALAM: The Selangor government will be writing to the Finance Ministry to request Goods and Services Tax (GST) exemption for state’s 12 local councils.

“If it is given consideration we can start streamlining but at the same time the state’s Economic Planning Unit has been directed to carry out a study and assessment on the financial implication if the state absorbs the GST,’’ Selangor Mentri Besar Azmin Ali (pic) told reporters after launching a book on Khalifah Umar Abdul Aziz here Wednesday

Azmin said as opposed to Penang which only has two local councils, Selangor has 12, with most of the councils concentrated in urban areas.

(The Penang state government has promised that its local councils will absorb the GST and not transfer it to the people.)

On another matter, Azmin said he had received an SMS from the Federal Government on the meeting with Energy, Green Technology and Water minister Datuk Seri Dr Maximus Ongkili.

“The meeting with the minister will be held in the next few days and I have prepared some things to discuss with him,’’ he added.