Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim's Cabinet has been discussing the viability of bringing back the goods and services tax (GST), the people said, asking not to be identified as the information is private.
No decision has been reached given the political sensitivities, they added. But But government spokesman Fahmi Fadzil on Aug 29 denied plans to reintroduce the GST.
"No, there were never discussions," national news agency Bernama quoted Mr Fahmi as saying.
There is an emerging view in government that imposing GST may be politically easier than removing subsidies for the popular RON95 petrol, since the South-east Asian country is an oil producer and most Malaysians consider cheap petrol to be a necessity, the people said.
Still, bringing in a consumption tax is a political minefield for governments in Malaysia that have struggled for decades to boost tax collection rates, among the lowest in South-east Asia.
Passing legislation to reinstate GST is easier with a two-thirds majority in Parliament, which Datuk Seri Anwar controls through his coalition, but government lawmakers are more than likely to be against it.
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة August 30, 2024 من The Straits Times.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك ? تسجيل الدخول
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة August 30, 2024 من The Straits Times.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك? تسجيل الدخول
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