GST implementation to add up to RM27b to Malaysia's income

Minister in the Prime Minister's Department, Datuk Seri Idris Jala says GST will provide extra funds for the government to spend on the well-being of Malaysians.

Malaysia will be able to rake in an additional income of up to RM27 billion if the proposed goods and services tax (GST) is implemented at seven per cent, similar to neighbouring Singapore.


Minister in the Prime Minister's Department, Datuk Seri Idris Jala said the new taxation mechanism can guarantee additional revenue of RM20 billion to RM27 billion, at maturity.

"At maturity, is when, every Malaysians starts to contribute towards the GST. It must be implemented as soon as Malaysians are ready to accept the mechanism," he added.

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GST only removes tax burden on ‘wealthier’ minority, says Pua

Implementing the Goods and Services Tax (GST) while reducing the existing income tax will only benefit the “wealthier” minority, says Tony Pua.

The DAP national publicity secretary said that currently only 15 per cent of the working population earned enough to qualify to pay taxes, which meant 85 per cent of the country’s workforce earned less than RM3,000 a month.

Copyright Act to be amended

The Copyright Act 1987 will be amended to give the government more bite in handling intellectual property and copyright related matters, Domestic Trade, Cooperative and Consumerism Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said today.

He said the ministry hopes to table the amendments in the Parliamentary meeting in June.

Among the proposed amendments are to enhance current controls over the purchase or ownership of pirated CD, VCD or DVDs.

Also proposed will be action against owners of premises selling pirated goods.

Currently, Section 41(2) of the Copyright Act states that it is an offence for "any person who has in his possession, custody or control three or more infringing copies of a work or recording."

Ismail Sabri said currently, action is only taken against producers and those who sell the pirated goods, but with the amendments, once approved, the action goes across the board for everyone, making it an offence for anyone to own even a single copy of pirated works.