FINANCE Minister Lim Guan Eng on Sept 10 referred to the incident in which his predecessor Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak complained of having to pay the SST when the latter bought a kaya bun at a coffee shop in Tanjung Malim recently.
“The former finance minister (Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak) recently bought a kaya ‘pao’ and he asked why he needs to pay the SST. I’m puzzled by his complaint. He didn’t complain when he first imposed the GST. It was 6% then (for the GST) and now it’s still 6% (for the SST). Why didn’t he complain then?
“The difference for eateries (when it comes to SST and GST) is this. Those with revenue turnover exceeding RM500,000.00 a year will have to pay 6% GST. With the SST, we are more lenient. We fixed the threshold at RM1.5 million a year for eateries liable to pay the SST. And we only take into account food and drinks. The threshold doesn’t include the sale of cigarettes and the rent collected (by the proprietor) from the food stalls.
“That’s why we say the GST makes a clean sweep. Nothing escapes from it! Those in business, those not in business and even the poor or unemployed cannot escape from it. I hope the former finance minister now realise the painful effects of the 6% he once imposed (on the people),” Guan Eng added.
“What Najib is doing is a sign of economic hypocrisy and deception. When he does it at a lower threshold is alright but when we do it at a higher threshold and a much relaxed condition, is wrong. It shows that he still supports and wants to bring back the GST,” he noted.
Story & pix by Victor Seow