Netizens agree that GST should be implemented again

SHAH ALAM - Social media users agree that the Goods and Services Tax (GST) should be reintroduced.

Based on a poll on the X Sinar Harian @SinarOnline platform entitled 'should GST be reintroduced?', 60.1 per cent of 1,601 respondents voted in favour of the reintroduction of GST while nearly 40 per cent disagreed.

The poll was conducted following a statement by Economy Minister Rafizi Ramli on Sept 11 who said that the government was open to reintroducing GST as one of the strategies to expand the revenue base to achieve fiscal sustainability.

Rafizi said the government will go through any means to broaden the revenue base, whether it was capital gains tax or any form of direct or indirect tax.

Meanwhile, in the comments section, social media user @Wan said that the implementation of GST was indeed good for economic growth but it needed to be fair so that the people could benefit from the tax.

"It's reasonable to implement it if the tax is returned to the people so that we can benefit from it. However, if there are parties who gains profit from this without giving back to the people, then we don't agree," he said.

For @Putera Semat, the implementation of GST was a reasonable move to strengthen the economy, but due to weaknesses in enforcement, many traders raised prices, burdening the public.

"I agree with the reintroduction of GST, but it must ensure proper enforcement so that no one takes advantage by raising prices of goods. If possible, provide rebates to traders and consumers so that both parties are not burdened," he wrote.

On the other hand, @Farid Mohd said the implementation was not reasonable and less suitable because of the inflationary pressure and the increasing cost of living.

"The government should wait until the economy is stable because if implemented, it will add to the existing inflationary pressure," he said.