Make sure SST doesn’t burden people, MCA tells Govt

PETALING JAYA: MCA wants the Government to ensure that the Sales and Service Tax (SST) will not burden the people or lead to price increases.

Its publicity bureau chairman Datuk Chai Kim Sen said the Government should also disclose the details on the implementation of the 10% sales tax and 6% service tax to the public as soon as possible.

“Only when the people have a deeper understanding of the taxation system can they protect their rights as consumers.

“I also hope that the Pakatan Harapan government will also disclose the calculation method for the SST as soon as possible,” he said in a statement yesterday.

Chai said embracing transparency will help cultivate a fair business operating environment and customers will be able to fully understand the impact of SST on prices of goods.

“Then only can the merchants adjust their operations according to the people’s expectations.

“The Pakatan government is responsible to ensure the prices will not rise because of the implementation of the SST,” he added.

He also said MCA had urged the Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry to ensure law enforcement in supervising the prices of goods in the market.

The reason for price hikes is lax law enforcement, which has made consumers the target of profiteers, and not the Goods and Services (GST) tax, Chai said.

“The Pakatan government has repeatedly claimed that the 6% GST implemented by the previous administration was the main cause of price hikes and increased burden on the people.

“If the problem really lies in GST, prices should have gone down with the zero-rated GST,” he added.