Day: January 30, 2023

PUTRAJAYA, Jan 30 (Bernama) — Over 90 per cent of companies paid their Sales and Services Tax (SST) last year and the less than 10 per cent defaulting companies caused the country to lose almost RM150 million in revenue, according to the Royal Malaysian Customs Department (JKDM).

Customs deputy director-general (enforcement/compliance) Datuk Sazali Mohamad said periodic checks conducted by JKDM’s compliance and audit division showed that some companies failed to meet the set regulations.

Speaking at a press conference in conjunction with the “Handholding SST Ikrar Betul Bayar Betul” programme here today, he said actions that can be taken against defaulting companies included barring their board members from travelling abroad.

“If there are tax arrears, they will be subjected to a penalty higher than the amount of tax due or court action if necessary,” he said, adding that although less than 10 per cent of companies defaulted it still had financial implications on the country.

Sazali said tax collection for 2022 was RM53.54 billion, an increase of 25.97 per cent or RM11.03 billion compared to the collection in 2021.

“This is due to increased collection from tax components such as sales tax, service tax, excise duty, import duty and levies. This increase in revenue also reflects JKDM’s ability and leadership in managing and administering the department at an excellent level,” he said.

JKDM was targeting a revenue collection of RM52 billion for 2023, he said.

On the programme held today and tomorrow at Menara A, Suasana PjH here, he said it was to provide better understanding on SST legislation and the responsibility to declare and pay taxes accordingly.

The programme was targeted at SST registrants and would be expanded to all states in stages throughout February, he said.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 30 (Bernama) — Suppliers are welcomed to play a part in the ‘Menu Rahmah’ initiative introduced by the Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry (KPDN) alongside Malaysian Indian Restaurant Owners Association (Primas) and the Malaysian Tomyam Operators Association.

Malaysian Muslim Restaurant Owners Association (Presma) president Datuk Jawahar Ali Taib Khan said the suggestion is to lend a helping hand to provide raw materials at a lower cost to restaurants that partake in the initiative.

“If there are suppliers who offer a price cut (on raw material) during the collaboration of Menu Rahmah, we can allocate the funds from companies to them,” he told Bernama.

Jawahar said Presma was working side by side with Primas in this initiative and will bring this suggestion to the KPDN Minister Datuk Seri Salahuddin Ayub before signing the memorandum of understanding (MoU) in the coming week.

KPDN will soon introduce ‘Menu Rahmah’, which offers meals priced at RM5 and below specifically for the hardcore poor which includes rice, chicken or fish and vegetables.

In addition, he said Salahuddin had suggested providing ‘Tabung Rahmah’ for each participating restaurant that can fund free food for the hardcore poor like the Asnaf community.

Haris Hanipah, 30, a factory worker said it’s a good initiative from the government when it comes to helping those in need since the increment of essential items is getting expensive in today’s market.

“This initiative seems like a short-term solution and the government should seek for a more in-depth approach to not only sustain the well-being of the community but also increase their household overall income,” he said.

However, an economist at University College i-CATS Kuching, Professor Datuk Dr Shazali Abu Mansor suggested KPDN introduce a food voucher initiative as it would be more practical when providing products and supplies for a household.

“As an example, a food voucher valued at about RM100 a month will provide each family with decent quantities of groceries and this can provide at least three meals a day for the family,” he said.

Shazali said through this suggestion the government could negotiate with established hypermarkets or supermarkets about providing food vouchers as part of their discount offers to potentially boost their sales revenue.

He said the ‘Menu Rahmah’ is more suitable for singles who mostly do not mind travelling to the restaurant for a meal but for a family, it will cause time and effort that will cost more than the valued meal due to transportation expenditure.

When asked regarding the selection of needy recipients for the food voucher, Shazali said data from the Inland Revenue Board (LHDN) can determine the eligibility of the recipient based on the size of the household, wages and locations.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

SIBU, Jan 30 (Bernama) — Establishing volunteer and community fire brigades is the best way to deal with fire incidents and early rescue operations in scattered interior settlements like Sarawak.

Malaysian Fire and Rescue Department (JPBM) director-general Datuk Seri Mohammad Hamdan Wahid said residents of Sarawak are encouraged to form these volunteer groups so that they can intervene early in the event of an emergency such as a fire.

Given Sarawak’s vastness with its complex topography and geography, it is difficult for fire and rescue services to respond in less than 10 minutes, which is the average response time in the country, he said.

“That is why we are encouraging the establishment of volunteer fire brigades and community firemen who will be the first to respond in cases of emergency,” he told reporters after opening a fire and rescue station in Selangau, 78 km from here, today.

He said there are more than 400 longhouses scattered throughout the state and far from the fire station in the Tamin State Assembly (DUN) area, which includes part of Selangau.

According to Mohammad Hamdan, the volunteer fire brigade will be registered under the Sarawak JBPM and its members must comprise residents who will safeguard their respective neighbourhoods and be provided with basic equipment and training.

“If the volunteers are already registered with the fire brigade, they will also receive a subsidy of RM3,000 per year for administrative and management costs and from time to time we will also assist with equipment maintenance,” he said.

Sarawak JBPM director Datuk Khirudin Drahman said the construction of the Selangau Fire and Rescue Station started on Jan 29, 2018, at a cost of about RM6 million.

The Category D station, the 38th fire and rescue station in Sarawak, was built on a 1.45-hectare site and started operations on June 1, 2020 with 10 full-time members and 17 auxiliary personnel.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency