{
  "id": 7253418,
  "title": "Retailers want 2027 Budget to level playing field with foreign e-commerce",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/14/retailers-want-2027-budget-to-level-playing-field-with-foreign-e",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-14T05:20:27.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "New Straits Times",
    "slug": "new-straits-times",
    "url": "https://www.nst.com.my/business/corporate/2026/09/1532518/retailers-want-2027-budget-level-playing-field-foreign-e"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Malaysia Retail Chain Association (MRCA) has called on the 2027 Budget to address what it perceives as an unfair advantage for local retailers compared to foreign e-commerce platforms, while also mitigating escalating operating expenses. MRCA anticipates Prime Minister and Finance Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's presentation of the budget on October 9 and has made several demands ahead of the announcement.\n\nThe association is advocating for stricter compliance with sales tax on low-value goods and equal treatment of cross-border online sellers. MRCA argues that foreign e-commerce giants with ultra-low-priced products are exerting pressure on domestic retailers, and tax disparities and compliance obligations might diminish Malaysia's tax base.\n\nAdditionally, MRCA urges more robust actions against counterfeit and substandard online goods, raising concerns about consumer safety, product quality, and intellectual property protection. In terms of business costs, the association seeks an exemption from the six percent service tax on utility services paid by commercial tenants through mall management, claiming that taxing utility payments simply passed on to tenants imposes an additional financial burden.\n\nMRCA also proposes tax rebates or double deductions for retailers and commercial property owners investing in environmental, social, and governance enhancements, especially in fire safety and infrastructure. The organization calls for a reduction in the service tax on construction and renovation services to three percent, arguing that construction materials are already subject to taxation.\n\nTo foster domestic consumption, MRCA urges the gradual reinstatement of the Goods and Services Tax, implementing a phased approach over five years to allow businesses and consumers to adapt. To bolster domestic demand, the association wants sales taxes on locally produced goods removed and the RM1,000 domestic tourism tax relief extended to 2027 for hotel stays and specific retail purchases.\n\nMRCA believes that a more predictable policy and tax environment would lower compliance costs, encourage investment, and enhance the competitiveness of Malaysian retailers.",
  "summary": "KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia Retail Chain Association (MRCA) is calling for 2027 Budget to tackle what it sees as an uneven playing field between local retailers and foreign e-commerce platforms, while easing rising operating costs.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}