GST: Call to strictly monitor indiscriminate price hikes in the outskirts

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MIRI: The authorities responsible for monitoring the implementation of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) must carry out regular checks on businesses not only in the urban areas, but also in rural villages across the state.

According to Sibuti MP Ahmad Lai Bujang, checks are deemed crucial towards avoiding unscrupulous traders from taking advantage of rural villagers, who may not fully understand the mechanism of the new taxation.

“It is undeniable that some irresponsible business owners tend to increase prices following the enforcement of GST on April 1.

“Such greed has caused anger among consumers, leading them to think that its (GST) implementation is bringing nothing good to the people,” he said when contacted on Saturday.

Ahmad Lai, however, said he had yet to receive any such report on business owners from his constituency indiscriminately increasing prices after the enforcement of GST.

He also believed that in its first six month of implementation, the GST would be causing problems and confusion among the consumers.

“Hence, the call on the relevant ministry to do regular price checks in ensuring its (GST) effectiveness.

The list of supplies and services that are zero-rated and tax-exempted, must be distributed to the people, especially those in the rural areas.

“This would help them to understand the GST better, able to recognise if an item is zero-rated, taxed or tax-exempted,” Ahmad Lai added.