Kembalikan GST, tak perlu bina sistem hibrid rumit, kata Ahli Parlimen DAP

Former DAP lawmaker Lim Lip Eng has suggested that the government reconsider bringing back the Goods and Services Tax (GST) instead of attempting to create a complex hybrid system by combining the Sales and Service Tax (SST) with GST. As the GST was introduced in April 2015 at a rate of 6%, before being scrapped at a zero rate in June 2018, Lim argued that Putrajaya should seriously consider revisiting the GST, which is a consumption tax that has been implemented in 176 countries worldwide.

The primary concerns with merging SST and GST include the need for a better-designed GST framework, stronger exemptions, quicker refunds, and support for low-income earners. Lim emphasized that the basis of taxation should be based on effectiveness, rather than an arbitrary system that does not have an international counterpart to the Malaysian SST-GST hybrid model.

He urged the government to demonstrate concrete figures to the public regarding how much of the RM59.6 billion expected from the SST this year would be collected again, refunded, and the timeliness of the refunds. Furthermore, Lim questioned which sectors would still be subject to double taxation under the new system, as it is essential information to determine whether the proposed system would be easier, fairer, and more effective than the existing one.