KUCHING: Royal Customs Department, in collaboration with Sarawak Petroleum Products Agents Association, organised a seminar on the implementation of Goods and Services Tax (GST) for the first time.
According to a press statement, 80 Shell station dealers together with their accounts staff attended the one-day seminar at a hotel here recently.
The objectives of the seminar were to provide first-hand information on the salient features of GST and how it affects the petrol station business and to equip dealers with its implementation and business preparation for the transition period as well as accounting for taxation.
In his opening speech at the seminar, Sarawak Petroleum Products Agents’ Association president Edwin Banta reminded the dealers to avail themselves to the opportunities and raise relevant concerns and to start online registration immediately while assisting the government to educate the general public at their respective station on the implementation of GST as part of dealers’ corporate social responsibility.
Banta thanked the Royal Custom Department senior assistant directors Noelle Lily Morse and Robert Tuat, who are in charge of GST Sarawak, for facilitating the seminar.
He also hoped that this collaboration would not be confined to its initial implementation stage but they would continue guiding and assisting dealers in the smooth implementation of GST.
He also commented on the competitiveness of petroleum retailing business due to the mushrooming of DODO stations, in addition to a significant increase in the station operating costs and diluting margins.
Despite these issues, station dealers were advised to consistently provide quality service.