Govt to clarify expanded SST, won't burden M40 or lower-income groups, says PM Anwar

ISKANDAR PUTERI, June 19 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said the government will provide a more detailed explanation regarding the expanded Sales and Service Tax (SST), which will take effect on July 1.
He acknowledged that there was confusion regarding the expanded tax and the government aims to ensure that its implementation will be done in a targeted manner.
'I agree that the government needs to give an explanation and to clarify the matter.
'What is important is that we do not want to burden the lower-income groups or the M40,' he told reporters after attending a close-door Johor PKR leadership event held at the Mall of Medini here today.
The prime minister attended in his capacity as the PKR president.
Anwar, who is also the finance minister, explained that previous general statements on the expanded SST had also caused some confusion.
He gave an example of a statement saying that bananas were soon subjected to the SST, but clarified that this only applied to imported bananas.
'This issue has created some confusion where the public argued that even the poor consume fruits.
'This is an area where the government can address to the public in addition to making one or two changes,' he said.
Anwar said taxation was an important feature for the government as it will see to better schools and public hospitals.
'We have to think of where the government can get funds to maintain public hospitals with better facilities and improved school buildings,' he said, adding that such taxes are mainly for those that are in the higher income bracket and foreigners.

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

New Straits Times

36 minutes ago

• New Straits Times

British envoy calls for deeper UK-Malaysia cooperation [WATCH]

KUALA LUMPUR: The United Kingdom (UK) and Malaysia should continue working to deliver tangible benefits for both nations and must not take their long-standing relationship for granted. Speaking at a reception celebrating the 77th birthday of King Charles III, British High Commissioner Ajay Sharma said the UK was committed to strengthening cooperation with Malaysia across various sectors, building on centuries of shared history and values. "Our two Prime Ministers share an ambitious vision and have agreed to elevate the relationship between the UK and Malaysia to a strategic partnership, in particular in the areas of education, energy, defence and trade." "The list of our bilateral co-operation is endless. And most importantly, we shouldn't take the relationship between our two countries for granted. We need to keep working at delivering for our people through this relationship," he said. Sharma also expressed his hope for more shared success in the UK-Malaysia relations. In attendance on behalf of the government of Malaysia was Plantation and Commodities Minister Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani. This year's celebrations carried the theme Great British Fantasia, inspired by King Charles' interest in literature. Sharma said that the monarch had once written a children's book titled The Old Man of Lochnagar, which focused on the environment and the beauty of nature. He said the theme also drew from iconic British literary works such as Harry Potter, The Lord of the Rings, Alice in Wonderland, and The Chronicles of Narnia — many of which feature kings and queens. "In the UK, royalty is not just the stuff of fiction but an essential part of our national identity. The same is true in Malaysia. This royal link is something we have shared for centuries. It binds our countries and peoples in a unique way," he said. Sharma also said education remains a cornerstone of the bilateral relationship, with over 150,000 Malaysians having studied in the UK in the last 20 years and five British university campuses operating in Malaysia. He also pointed to significant joint efforts in climate action and environmental protection, a cause close to the heart of King Charles, saying the two countries were driving global action to preserve forests and biodiversity while promoting sustainable trade. "Just like kings and queens live outside of books in the real world, we too live in a magical world of nature and biodiversity. We must do everything we can to preserve this for the sake of the planet and future generations," he said.

Malaysia Sun

an hour ago

• Malaysia Sun

International trade must be transparent, predictable

KUALA LUMPUR, June 19 (Xinhua) -- International trade must be governed by transparent rules and legal predictability, not by unilateralism or coercive economic measures, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said here on Thursday. In his keynote speech at the 38th Asia-Pacific Roundtable (APR) held in Kuala Lumpur, Anwar said that strengthening multilateralism through ASEAN and engaging with a diverse range of partners, such as China, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and BRICS, will help countries seeking constructive cooperation to weather the storm of geopolitical tensions. "The imposition of unilateral tariffs by the U.S. is a significant challenge to our nation and the region as we are deeply plugged into global supply chains. International trade must be governed by transparent rules and legal predictability, not by unilateralism or coercive economic measures," he said. "Malaysia's strategy of active non-alignment is a deliberate and principled framework, designed to maximize strategic flexibility, preserve decision-making autonomy, and engage all partners on our own terms... Malaysia has reached out to like-minded partners in the Global South to bridge regions, build collective resolve and promote shared prosperity," he added. Anwar also stressed the importance of avoiding bloc confrontation, emphasizing that dialogue and engagement are the only ways to ensure continued economic growth and stable relations between nations. "The future of this region lies not in hardened blocs or fragile balances, but in a security architecture that is inclusive, predictable, and anchored in rules, one in which active non-alignment is not merely tolerated but enabled to thrive," he said. The APR, which runs from June 17 to June 19, is the signature international conference of the Institute of Strategic and International Studies Malaysia.

New Straits Times

2 hours ago

• New Straits Times

British envoy calls for deeper UK-Malaysia cooperation

KUALA LUMPUR: The United Kingdom (UK) and Malaysia should continue working to deliver tangible benefits for both nations and must not take their long-standing relationship for granted. Speaking at a reception celebrating the 77th birthday of King Charles III, British High Commissioner Ajay Sharma said the UK was committed to strengthening cooperation with Malaysia across various sectors, building on centuries of shared history and values. "Our two Prime Ministers share an ambitious vision and have agreed to elevate the relationship between the UK and Malaysia to a strategic partnership, in particular in the areas of education, energy, defence and trade." "The list of our bilateral co-operation is endless. And most importantly, we shouldn't take the relationship between our two countries for granted. We need to keep working at delivering for our people through this relationship," he said. Sharma also expressed his hope for more shared success in the UK-Malaysia relations. In attendance on behalf of the government of Malaysia was Plantation and Commodities Minister Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani. This year's celebrations carried the theme Great British Fantasia, inspired by King Charles' interest in literature. Sharma said that the monarch had once written a children's book titled The Old Man of Lochnagar, which focused on the environment and the beauty of nature. He said the theme also drew from iconic British literary works such as Harry Potter, The Lord of the Rings, Alice in Wonderland, and The Chronicles of Narnia — many of which feature kings and queens. "In the UK, royalty is not just the stuff of fiction but an essential part of our national identity. The same is true in Malaysia. This royal link is something we have shared for centuries. It binds our countries and peoples in a unique way," he said. Sharma also said education remains a cornerstone of the bilateral relationship, with over 150,000 Malaysians having studied in the UK in the last 20 years and five British university campuses operating in Malaysia. He also pointed to significant joint efforts in climate action and environmental protection, a cause close to the heart of King Charles, saying the two countries were driving global action to preserve forests and biodiversity while promoting sustainable trade. "Just like kings and queens live outside of books in the real world, we too live in a magical world of nature and biodiversity. We must do everything we can to preserve this for the sake of the planet and future generations," he said.