Thursday, February 5, 2015

GST in Malaysia: Some things are cheaper!

GST: Some items to be cheaper

KUALA LUMPUR: The prices of television sets, refrigerators, air conditioners, electric irons, hair dryers, diapers and soft drinks are expected to come down with the introduction of the Goods and Services Tax (GST).
These items have a 10% sales and services tax embedded in their prices, but with the GST replacing the SST in April, the lower 6% GST rate will make them cheaper.

However, the prices of computers, laptops, iPads, mobile phones, men’s watches and cosmetics, including lipstick and nail polish, are expected to go up. These were tax free in the past.

“These items will be subjected to the standard 6% GST rate,” said Customs Department director of GST Datuk Subromaniam Tholasy.
 
He said there would be no GST for essential food items such chicken, beef, mutton, fish, duck, fish, eggs, ikan bilis, rice, bread, fresh vegetables and fruits, coconut oil, peanut cooking oil, palm oil and infant formula as well as for petrol RON95, diesel, toll and public transport.

But non-essentials such as tomato sauce, chilli sauce, oyster sauce, cup noodles, luncheon meat, tempe, cheese, margarine, quail egg, corn oil, olive oil, biscuit, donut and croissant chocolate will be subjected to the standard 6% GST.


The Customs Department has released a book with the extensive list of taxable and non-taxable goods and this can be downloaded from its website.
“From a tax administrator’s point of view, it is easier if everything got taxed because it would make things simpler to implement,” Subromaniam said.

“But the Government doesn’t wish to tax so much and it wants to make sure that the low income group will not be unnecessarily burdened.

“So, we have to strike a balance between revenue and providing a social safety net.”

Subromaniam said businesses that did not know which goods were subjected to the GST and which were not should not add on the 6% because a lot of goods already have a 10% SST embedded in the pricing.

“If they don’t understand, they can ask the Customs people or check our book.”
Subromaniam said the department had been carrying out two-day hand-holding programmes over the past six months to get businesses ready for the GST and have trained over 40,000 people so far.

On whether it would be “messy” when the GST comes into effect, Subromaniam said: “There will be issues. The Customs Department has been dealing with these since 1972 with the SST and we have the experience and expertise to handle them.”

Source: The Star

Wednesday, February 4, 2015

HOW TO MAKE EMERGENCY CALLS AT MALAYSIA

HOW TO MAKE EMERGENCY CALLS AT MALAYSIA

Here is a good chart of emergency call list whether you are making the call via land line and/or mobile/cell/hand phone wherever you are are in Malaysia.

Police / Ambulance Tel: 999 / 112 from a mobile telephone
Fire and Rescue Department (known as Bomba / Fire Brigade) Tel: 994 / 112 from a mobile telephone
Civil Defence Tel: 991
Tourist Police Hotline Tel: 03 2149 6590
Enquiries Tel: 03 2149 6593
National Poison Centre
At
: Universiti Sains Malaysia, 11800 Penang
Tel: 04 657 0099 (Monday to Friday 08:00-10:00 and 17:00-22-00)
After hours Tel: 012 430 9499
Toll free: 1 800 888 099

Hope that helps!

****Don't dial "999" on your mobile phone, it will not work! Dial "112" *****