Food importers worry about added cost
PETALING JAYA: As the government moves to impose a 5% sales tax on a wider range of imported food, local importers warn that the rising costs will ultimately be borne by Malaysian consumers and could affect healthy eating habits.
Chef Sivaji, a salmon importer and smoked salmon manufacturer in Malaysia, has voiced his concern over the decision to raise the Sales and Service Tax (SST) on imported salmon and cod.
'If 1kg of salmon costs RM35, with the 5% SST that's an extra RM1.75 in tax. So, for a 5kg fish, we're paying RM8.75 to the government.
'On top of that, there are already so many other taxes. Now, the government has decided to tax healthy food like salmon,' he said.
He said the new tax will ultimately be passed on to consumers.
'The taxes will be paid by consumers,' he said, adding that this will make salmon and cod more expensive at retail level.
Chef Sivaji urged the government to support the industry, noting that Malaysia is a relatively
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