Umno gesa kembalikan GST, tolak sistem hibrid, kata Zahid

Umno leader Zahid Hamidi has urged the reintroduction of the General Sales and Service Tax (GST) at a more reasonable rate, rejecting proposals for a hybrid system that combines GST with the Sales and Service Tax (SST). The current GST, introduced in April 2015 at a 6% rate, was made permanent in June 2018. During his keynote address at the Umno General Assembly, Zahid emphasized that the tax system should be revised to consider the interests of the people, businesses, and national economic development. He stressed that a hybrid system is not employed by any country.

Zahid believes that the revised GST should take into account the people's interests and be aligned with social security measures. He stated that the tax system is not solely aimed at increasing government revenue, but rather at facilitating business operations and supporting economic development. This approach would also help in building a strong coastal-based economy and strengthening the economies of Sarawak and Sabah.

The proposed tax system aligns with the "Blue Malaysia" concept introduced by Umno, aiming to build a more prosperous and resilient nation. According to Zahid, progress should not be solely measured by Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth, but also by the income that can be utilized by the people. He expressed the hope of making Malaysia a prosperous nation, and the willingness to change the way economic success is evaluated. GDP, he noted, is important, but it does not represent the well-being of the people.