MALAYSIA:::Trade union says Putrajaya must withdraw GST, warns of further burden on poor

(VERSI BAHASA MALAYSIA DIBAWAH)
AMTUC's Khalid Atan says Putrajaya is already unable to control prices of essential items. - The Malaysian Insider pic, October 29, 2013.n influential trade union today urged the government to withdraw its plan to implement the Goods and Services Tax (GST) as announced in last Friday's Budget 2014 speech, saying it would further burden the poor.

Malaysian Trades Union Congress (MTUC) warned that the new tax would burden the public, and said low and middle income groups will be most affected unless Putrajaya could assure that prices of goods and services will not increase.

"What is the government's assurance

that the GST will not be a burden to the public?" asked MTUC president Mohd Khalid Atan in comments to The Malaysian Insider today.

"Although the government has said that essential items would not be taxed, the price of vegetables and fish has already gone up several times," he added.

Khalid said the government was already helpless in controlling prices of essential items.

"The cost of living, especially in the city, has soared to unprecedented levels. What will happen when the GST is implemented?

"Can the government ensure that the prices of goods and services will not go up again?"

Khalid explained that the GST would have an impact on the public as it taxes the manufacturer, wholesaler and retailer before reaching the end consumer.

He said workers would be further burdened when prices of essential items take the brunt of the new tax.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, presenting his 2014 Budget last week, announced that the GST, at the rate of 6%, would be implemented from April 1, 2015. Najib had also said the move would not result in price increase of essential items as these are exempted from the GST.

"Even if Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak claims that there will be no price increase once the GST is introduced, but sugar and fuel subsidies have already been slashed," Khalid said.

"So if the government starts increasing the prices of essential items, what will happen to the workers? Those who earn RM900 and below a month comprise 40% of Malaysia's workforce."

Khalid said while MTUC understood the need to reduce fiscal deficit, it should not be at the expense of low income workers and their families.

"Putrajaya must stop the implementation of the GST and stop comparing Malaysia with other countries as an rhetoric for introducing this tax," he said.

He argued that the economic landscape in Malaysia was different "as other countries which practise GST will return various other benefits to its people".

"We know the GST will burden the public. Therefore we urge the government not to implement it. Don't compare Malaysia with other countries as they give back benefits to the public," he said.

"What do we get back from the government in Malaysia? Is the aid given by Putrajaya sufficient to endure the suffering caused by a 6% GST? The answer is no.

"We are taxed every day with no exemptions. The government should think twice before implementing GST. MTUC is against GST as we don't see how it benefits the rakyat."

source:::http://www.themalaysianinsider.com

MTUC gesa kerajaan batalkan GST

Kongres Kesatuan Sekerja Malaysia (MTUC) yang terdiri daripada 800,000 ahli menentang pelaksanaan Cukai Barangan dan Perkhidmatan (GST) yang dilihat membebankan pekerja berpendapatan rendah dan rakyat terbeban dengan cukai berganda dikenakan kepada mereka.

Presidennya, Mohd Khalid Atan, berkata golongan pekerja yang akan terkesan dengan pelaksanaan GST adalah mereka yang bergaji rendah dan pertengahan selain kerajaan tidak memberi jaminan kenaikan barang melampau tidak berlaku.

“Apa bukti kerajaan GST tidak membebankan rakyat? Meskipun Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Najib Razak mendakwa barangan keperluan asas tidak dikenakan GST, namun barangan seperti sayur dan ikan sudah beberapa kali mencatatkan kenaikan harga.

“Sekarang pun terbukti apabila kerajaan tidak mampu mengawal kenaikan harga barang. Dengan kenaikan harga barang semasa, kos sara hidup meningkat apatah lagi apabila dikenakan GST. Bagaimana kerajaan boleh memastikan tiada kenaikan harga barang?

“Kita sendiri pun tahu siapa yang akan dikenakan GST. Ia bermula daripada pengilang, pemborong, peruncit dan akhir sekali kepada pengguna,” katanya ketika dihubungi The Malaysian Insider.

Mohd Khalid berkata, golongan pekerja semakin menderita apabila satu persatu harga barangan keperluan asas dinaikkan kerajaan sebelum pelaksanaan GST pada April 2015.

Katanya, meskipun pembentangan Perdana Menteri menyebut tiada kenaikan harga barang apabila GST dilaksanakan namun subsidi gula dikurangkan sebanyak 34 sen dan subsidi petrol dikurangkan 20 sen.

“Jika satu persatu kerajaan menaikkan harga barangan keperluan, apa yang akan terjadi kepada golongan pekerja? Pekerja yang mendapat gaji di bawah RM900 masih sekitar 40% daripada tenaga kerja negara.

“Pada masa ini garisan kemiskinan berada pada paras RM820, maka mereka yang bergaji RM600 sebulan dikira sebagai miskin pada masa ini. Malah mereka yang bergaji RM1,500 pun pada hari ini turut berdepan masalah kewangan.

“Golongan yang dikenakan cukai ini adalah terdiri daripada pekerja berpendapatan rendah. Kita faham kerajaan mahu mengurangkan defisit negara tetapi mereka juga tidak boleh membebankan golongan pekerja bawahan,” katanya.

Sehubungan itu, beliau menggesa kerajaan tidak melaksanakan GST dan berhenti membandingkan Malaysia dengan negara lain sebagai retorik mahu melaksanakan GST.

Katanya, landskap ekonomi di Malaysia berbeza kerana negara lain yang mengenakan GST akan memberikan pulangan semula pelbagai bentuk faedah kepada rakyat.

“Kita tahu GST akan bebankan rakyat. Maka kita minta kerajaan jangan laksanakan GST ini. Jangan banding dengan negara lain, kerana negara lain banyak memberi faedah kepada rakyat mereka.

“Apa yang kita dapat di negara kita? Adakah bantuan diberikan kerajaan mampu menanggung derita 6% GST yang dikenakan rakyat. Maka, jawapannnya tidak.

“Kita dikenakan cukai setiap hari. Tiada pengecualian. Kerajaan patut berfikir dua kali sebelum melaksanakan GST. MTUC tentang GST. Kami tidak melihat apa kebaikan GST ini kepada rakyat,” katanya.

Perdana Menteri semasa membentangkan Bajet 2014 di Dewan Rakyat pada Jumaat mengumumkan GST akan dilaksanakan mulai 1 April 2015 dan kadar cukainya dikenakan sebanyak  6%.

Najib berkata, melalui GST, kerajaan dapat menangani banyak kelemahan dalam sistem percukaian  sedia ada dan kedah percukaian itu sudah dilaksanakan di 160 buah negara di dunia yang menunjukkan GST adalah sistem percukaian terbaik.

Katanya, di kalangan negara Asean, Indonesia, Filipina, Laos dan Kemboja mengguna pakai GST serta katanya kadar GST 6% merupakan yang terendah di Asean. – 29 Oktober, 2013.

copy from:::http://www.themalaysianinsider.com

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