PETALING JAYA: For executive Lina, happiness was indulging in facials every two to three months, and hair treatments as well as waxing, manicure and pedicure.
And then, things turned ugly. The beauty procedures would all be subjected to the expanded Sales and Service Tax (SST) from Tuesday, the government said.
Yesterday, though, the Finance Ministry did a U-turn, and Lina of Kuala Lumpur can sleep easy again.
“A lot of us women do facials every two to three months, then hair treatments as well as waxing, manicure and pedicure.
“We work hard for our money, and we spend most of it on the family.
“Treating ourselves in this way is a form of happiness,” she said, adding that the tax relief is welcomed.
Assistant manager Faridah Begam Abdul, from Ampang, was happy about the SST exemption for gold because she is preparing for a wedding.
“The price of gold has already soared with global uncertainties, and if you add SST, the total cost will be higher.
“As such, any exemption is welcomed and it will benefit those who invest in gold,” she said.
Dentist Kimberly Tan, from Petaling Jaya, was thankful for the SST exemption on apples and oranges as her two kids love to eat fruit often.
“Fruits are my kids’ favourites; they consume a lot of it every week so this is a relief for us.
“I hope they can expand the exemption to more fruits and other essentials like baby products and healthcare items since these are necessities for young families,” she said.
Following public concern and feedback from industry players, the government has exempted SST expansion for the beauty industry, gold as well as imported apples and oranges.
United Asian Hairdressers Association president Dr Michael Poh said they are elated with the decision to exclude the beauty industry from SST.
“This milestone marks official recognition of the hair and beauty industry as a necessity, not a luxury, a critical turning point in our nation’s socio-economic landscape,” he said while expressing gratitude to the Finance Ministry.
Syiling Unisex Hair Salon owner Mogana Chinnathamby hailed the tax exemption as a win for micro and small enterprises, particularly those in the grooming and beauty sector.
“This is not just a SST matter. It’s about protecting livelihoods, ensuring accessible grooming for everyone, and keeping Malaysia’s service economy thriving.
“A heartfelt thank you to the ministries involved,” she said.
On June 16, the Federation of Malaysian Business Associations had held a dialogue with Finance Minister II Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan to put forward industry concerns over the SST expansion implementation on July 1.
