DPM Zahid: Govt to review SST on some imports including non-local fruits like apples, mandarin oranges
He noted that the fruits are not produced locally but are fully imported, and therefore the tax should be reconsidered before imposing a rate of between five and 10 per cent.
'I believe it is reasonable for (the new SST rate on certain goods) to be reviewed and I think there will be an adjustment for certain materials to be categorised for tax at five to 10 per cent.
'(But) don't take that conclusively,' he told reporters after officiating the Community Development Department (Kemas) Teachers' Day Celebration here.
Earlier, Mydin Holdings Bhd managing director Datuk Ameer Ali Mydin Mohamed described the move to impose SST on imported fruit as unreasonable, saying it would also affect low-income consumers.
Responding to this, Ahmad Zahid said the views raised by Ameer Ali should be brought to the Cabinet meeting, as the issue concerns public access to imported fruits.
'The revenue from fruit tax to the country is not that high. So if SST is imposed, the price will increase.
'I know the purpose (of imposing SST on imported fruits) is to protect local fruits but we do not produce apples and mandarin oranges. I am sure the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Economy are also looking into the matter,' he said.
On June 9, the government announced a targeted SST review set to take effect from July 1, 2025.
The sales tax rate will remain unchanged for essential goods, while a five or 10 per cent rate will be applied to non-essential or discretionary goods.
The scope of service tax has also been expanded to cover six new categories: rental or leasing, construction, finance, private healthcare, education, and beauty. — Bernama
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Free Malaysia Today
32 minutes ago
- Free Malaysia Today
Bersatu wing tells govt Indian MPs to quit over Mitra's failure
Bersatu associate wing vice-chief R Sri Sanjeevan called for a forensic audit to be conducted on all of Mitra's expenditure since its establishment. (Bernama pic) PETALING JAYA : A Bersatu associate wing leader says government Indian MPs who lack the courage to speak up about the Malaysian Indian Transformation Unit (Mitra) should resign immediately following a DAP lawmaker's view that Mitra had failed to help Indians most in need. Earlier today, Klang MP V Ganabatirau told the Dewan Rakyat that Mitra had been hampered by frequent leadership changes, bureaucracy and the lack of long-term planning. He also said funds often failed to reach those most in need and accused some ministries of treating Mitra as an 'emergency fund' rather than a proper development agency. In a statement, Bersatu associate wing vice-chief R Sri Sanjeevan said Ganabatirau's admission confirmed that Mitra had become a 'political tool and a crony project hub, not a saviour for the community'. 'This is not just Mitra's failure – this is a moral failure of all Indian elected representatives in the government,' said Sanjeevan. 'They were chosen to be the voice of the people, but in the end, they have become enablers of weaknesses and abuse of power. 'Indian MPs in the government who lack the courage to speak up should immediately resign. Don't put on a show pretending to speak out about Mitra just to gain popularity and votes from the Indian community.' Apart from calling for a forensic audit to be conducted on all of Mitra's expenditure since its establishment, Sanjeevan also said all Mitra projects that had failed to meet their objectives should be made public. Last week, Mitra chairman P Prabakaran said the agency's past failures were due to a lack of continuity, which he said disrupted long-term efforts to uplift the Indian community. Prabakaran told the Dewan Rakyat that over the past decade, Mitra and its predecessor, the Socioeconomic Development of the Indian Community Unit, had seen frequent changes in leadership and policies. However, Prabakaran said under his tenure, he had ensured that Mitra's direction was aligned with national policies – and not individual preferences. The Batu MP took over as Mitra chairman in February 2024.
Free Malaysia Today
35 minutes ago
- Free Malaysia Today
Is Waytha's suit against Anwar linked to Bersatu meeting, asks Syahredzan
Bangi MP Syahredzan Johan has questioned the timing of Malaysian Advancement Party president P Waytha Moorthy's suit against Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim. PETALING JAYA : Pakatan Harapan (PH) MP Syahredzan Johan has questioned whether a suit filed by lawyer P Waytha Moorthy against Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim is linked to Waytha's recent meeting with Bersatu leaders. Earlier today, FMT reported that Waytha had filed a suit seeking a declaration that Anwar should not have been elected as Tambun MP in November 2022 and appointed prime minister. In a Facebook post, Bangi MP Syahredzan said that while anyone has the right to file court proceedings, he felt the suit against Anwar was 'frivolous and vexatious' as the latter has been prime minister for close to three years. He also noted that Waytha had even previously hailed Anwar, the Pakatan Harapan chairman, as the best man to head the Malaysian Indian Transformation Unit (Mitra). 'Is this not acknowledgement that Anwar is legally the prime minister? 'Anwar has been the Tambun MP for 996 days. (But) Waytha only wants to disqualify Anwar (now)? 'Is it a coincidence that Waytha met Bersatu leaders last month, and today we are told about this suit against Anwar?' said Syahredzan. Malaysian Advancement Party president Waytha was among the leaders from political parties outside the government bloc who met Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin to discuss the formation of a united opposition front. In his Facebook post, Syahredzan also pointed out that Waytha, who was a minister in Dr Mahathir Mohamad's Cabinet from 2018 to 2020, did not object when Anwar contested and won a 2018 by-election for the Port Dickson parliamentary seat. 'Waytha did not have a problem with it at the time,' added Syahredzan, who is a lawyer by training. 'He did not file any suit to disqualify Anwar then, even until Parliament was dissolved in 2022.'
Free Malaysia Today
3 hours ago
- Free Malaysia Today
Sea's sales top estimates as online shoppers keep spending
Shopee's second-quarter revenue rose 34% to US$3.8 billion. (Reuters pic) SINGAPORE : Sea Ltd's second-quarter sales beat analysts' estimates as more of Southeast Asia's consumers turn to online shopping for anything from iPhones to daily groceries. Revenue rose 38% to a record US$5.26 billion in the three months through June, the company said in a statement. Analysts estimated US$5 billion on average. Net income jumped to US$414.2 million from US$79.9 million a year earlier, but fell short of the US$444 million analysts predicted. Sea's American depositary receipts jumped as much as 20% after markets opened in New York today, their biggest intraday gain in nine months. The results assuage some concerns about the prospects of e-commerce arm Shopee. The region's top online retail platform is battling deep-pocketed global challengers including ByteDance Ltd's TikTok Shop and Alibaba Group Holding Ltd's Lazada. Emerging players like Shein and PDD Holdings Inc's Temu are also looking to break into the emerging region of 675 million people where more and more shoppers are coming online. To boost its bottom line, Shopee has been steadily raising the commissions it charges merchants in various core markets by about a third since the start of last year. The hikes, which bring Shopee's fees above its rivals, show that Sea is confident it can attract and retain merchants, helped by a broad user base and well-established delivery services. Shopee's second-quarter revenue rose 34% to US$3.8 billion, thanks in part to surging commissions and ad revenue. Sea is also betting on new initiatives from digital finance to logistics to grow its dominance and convince investors of its growth potential. Its logistics arm SPX Express now handles the majority of Shopee's billions of parcels annually, while its finance arm – now known as Monee – increased sales 70% last quarter to US$882.8 million. Bookings at gaming division Garena rose 23%. 'In the past, cash flow from Sea's gaming arm Garena was used to grow Shopee and Monee, but now Shopee and Monee are in healthier capital positions,' Hussaini Saifee, an analyst at Maybank Securities, said before the results. 'Sea can now invest in further developing Garena which has also made a strong rebound over the last year and a half.'
