KOTA KINABALU – Community Development and Consumer Affairs
Minister Datuk Jainab Ahmad said she was looking into ways to ensure the prices
of affordable homes are maintained in the face of the Goods and Services Tax
(GST) which will be implemented next year.
“I have spoken to Deputy Finance Minister Datuk Ahmad Maslan
on the matter so that the prices of affordable homes are maintained even with
the implementation of GST. So, we hope in the coming national Budget 2015 there would
be goodies announced where the price of such affordable homes even with the introduction
of GST would not increase or even better that developer who construct such
homes be exempted from GST. In this way prices for such homes can be maintained or even
better reduced.” She said this to media after officiating at the Sabah
Electricity Sdn Bhd (SESB), Government Agency and Community Development
briefing event at ILP Hall Sepanggar, Tuesday. SESB was not present at the
event.
Also on the issue of GST, Jainab urged the public to not be
misled by advertisements calling on the public to purchase furniture before GST
next year causes the prices to rise.
“Actually with GST the prices of furniture will be reduced.
When it comes to GST, it will only be six percent so there will be reduction in
price. So don’t be afraid and don’t believe those claims. Also don’t be misled
by the talk that GST is bad, because even the opposition in private agrees with
its implementation. Even Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim when he was Finance Minister
wanted to introduce the tax but now that he is denying it."
Meanwhile, on the issue of Borneo Mart (which was
established to help reduce the burden of rising prices for people in rural
community), which is currently lacking in the supply of certain items,
including cooking oil, Jainab said she was looking into how the issue can be
resolved.
According to her, discussions were already held with
suppliers with the attendance of officials from the Ministry of Domestic Trade,
Co-operatives and Consumerism.
She said on the cooking oil quota, there was a definite need
for an increase and that this can be discussed with the Malaysian Palm Oil
Board as well to increase the distribution quota of cooking oil to Borneo Mart
by distributors.
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