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The Sun
8 hours ago
- Business
- The Sun
MSM welcomes Finance Ministry's clarity on SST exemption mechanism for raw sugar
KUALA LUMPUR: MSM Malaysia Holdings Bhd (MSM), the producer of the national refined sugar brand 'Gula Prai', welcomes the timely clarification issued today by the Ministry of Finance regarding the Sales and Service Tax (SST) treatment of raw sugar imports. The ministry's statement today confirmed that while a five per cent sales tax will apply to raw sugar, a key input for refined sugar production, refiners may apply for tax exemptions under prescribed conditions. In a statement today, MSM said that this clarification follows MSM highlighting the potential significant cost pressures arising from the expanded SST regime during its annual general meeting on June 19, 2025. 'The group emphasised that these input cost increases could impact refined sugar pricing, which could in turn push up prices of refined sugar for industrial buyers. 'We appreciate the ministry's prompt attention to this matter and its reaffirmation of a clear pathway for eligible refiners to seek relief,' it said. MSM added that this is particularly crucial given the challenging operating environment, where retail sugar prices have been capped at RM2.85 per kilogramme since 2011 despite substantial rises in global raw sugar costs in recent years.


The Sun
8 hours ago
- Business
- The Sun
MSM welcomes MOF clarification on raw sugar SST rules
KUALA LUMPUR: MSM Malaysia Holdings Bhd (MSM), the producer of the national refined sugar brand 'Gula Prai', welcomes the timely clarification issued today by the Ministry of Finance regarding the Sales and Service Tax (SST) treatment of raw sugar imports. The ministry's statement today confirmed that while a five per cent sales tax will apply to raw sugar, a key input for refined sugar production, refiners may apply for tax exemptions under prescribed conditions. In a statement today, MSM said that this clarification follows MSM highlighting the potential significant cost pressures arising from the expanded SST regime during its annual general meeting on June 19, 2025. 'The group emphasised that these input cost increases could impact refined sugar pricing, which could in turn push up prices of refined sugar for industrial buyers. 'We appreciate the ministry's prompt attention to this matter and its reaffirmation of a clear pathway for eligible refiners to seek relief,' it said. MSM added that this is particularly crucial given the challenging operating environment, where retail sugar prices have been capped at RM2.85 per kilogramme since 2011 despite substantial rises in global raw sugar costs in recent years.


New Straits Times
10 hours ago
- Business
- New Straits Times
MSM's response to ministry's clarification on new levy on raw sugar
KUALA LUMPUR: MSM Malaysia Holdings Bhd (MSM) welcomes the timely clarification by the Finance Ministry today regarding the sales and service tax (SST) treatment of raw sugar imports. The ministry's statement confirms that while a 5.0 per cent SST will apply to raw sugar, a key input for refined sugar production, refiners may apply for tax exemptions under prescribed conditions. This clarification follows MSM highlighting the potential significant cost pressures arising from the expanded SST regime during its annual general meeting (AGM) on Thursday. The group had said the input cost increases could impact refined sugar pricing, which could push up prices of refined sugar for industrial buyers. MSM, in a statement today, said the ministry's prompt attention to the matter is especially important in the current challenging operating landscape, where retail sugar prices have remained capped at RM2.85 per kilogramme since 2011, despite significant increases in global raw sugar prices in recent years. MSM group chief executive officer Syed Feizal Syed Mohammad said the ministry's confirmation of an exemption application mechanism provides much-needed clarity and flexibility for refiners like MSM. "This enables us to proactively manage input costs and mitigates immediate pressure on refined sugar prices, while continuing to fulfil our role in the national sugar supply chain under the existing retail price framework," he added. The group remains committed to working closely with the government and all stakeholders to ensure minimal disruption to the supply chain and stable pricing for essential food industries. While input cost management remains a priority, MSM assures customers and partners of its relentless focus on operational efficiency and fair pricing. "We are confident that the exemption mechanism will contribute positively to safeguarding the competitiveness of Malaysia's food manufacturing sector," the company said.


Daily Express
15 hours ago
- Business
- Daily Express
No reason for price hike as refined sugar remains exempt from SST, Finance Ministry tells MSM
Published on: Friday, June 20, 2025 Published on: Fri, Jun 20, 2025 By: Bernama Text Size: Packets of sugar are stacked on shelves at a supermarket in Kuala Lumpur October 16, 2024. — Picture by Firdaus Latif Kuala Lumpur: Refined sugar (or commonly known as white sugar) remains tax-free under the revised Sales and Service Tax (SST) that will take effect on July 1, 2025, said the Ministry of Finance (MOF). The MOF said in a statement today that raw sugar used in the production of refined sugar would be subject to a five per cent sales tax. Advertisement 'However, as previously announced, manufacturers such as MSM Malaysia Holdings Bhd are eligible to apply for tax exemption on their raw materials and inputs. 'Hence, there is no reason for any increase in the price of refined sugar — especially since sugar refiners like MSM continue to receive monthly incentives from the government to ensure supply and price stability,' the MOF said. The MOF said this to clarify a statement issued by MSM regarding the impact of the sales tax revision on raw sugar. The ministry said the Madani Government has taken a targeted approach by not imposing taxes on essential goods such as sugar, salt, chicken, eggs, meat, fish, vegetables, cooking oil and rice. Advertisement 'This is to ensure that the majority of the people will not be affected by the SST revision,' it said. The MOF said sugar refiners and manufacturers in Malaysia can apply to the Royal Malaysian Customs Department for tax exemptions as provided for under Item 1, Column (2), Schedule B of the Sales Tax (Persons Exempt from Payment of Tax) Order. Yesterday, it was reported that national refined sugar producer MSM is reviewing the five per cent extension of SST involving raw sugar and is seeking further clarification from the government to monitor the impact on the prices of regulated goods. According to the MSM group chief executive officer, the retail price of sugar in Malaysia has been capped at RM2.85 per kilogramme since 2011, despite the global raw sugar price increasing in recent years. He said that if the tax was imposed on raw sugar, the country's refined sugar producers could pass on the cost to the industry. 'However, we cannot do that for sugar because it is under price control,' he said, adding that 75 to 80 per cent of MSM's production costs come from raw sugar. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia


The Star
28-05-2025
- Business
- The Star
TM posts lower 1Q net profit of RM401mil but revenue edges up
KUALA LUMPUR: Telekom Malaysia Bhd (TM) recorded a lower net profit of RM401.25 million in the first quarter ended March 31, 2025, compared with RM424.81 million in the corresponding quarter last year. Its revenue, however, rose slightly by 0.5 per cent to RM2.85 billion from RM2.83 billion previously, driven primarily by higher contributions from data, other telecommunication services and the education segment. TM said its first quarter revenue performance was in line with expectations, coming within the projected low single-digit growth range. "Growth in business-to-business (B2B) digital solutions and sustained demand in the carrier-to-carrier (C2C) segment helped offset the softer business-to-consumer (B2C) performance,' it said in a stock exchange filing. TM said it remains focused on strengthening its core operations, scaling enterprise and digital services, and enhancing cost efficiency to stay on track with its 2025 strategic commitments. - Bernama