Kota Kinabalu: The Malaysia-China Chamber of Commerce (MCCC) Sabah has welcomed the State Government’s move to amend the State Sales Tax (SST) Ordinance, calling it a necessary step to strengthen legal clarity, improve the appeals process, and ensure more consistent enforcement.
The amendment, recently tabled in the Sabah State Legislative Assembly, is aimed at removing ambiguities in the law that have led to confusion and uneven application of tax procedures.
MCCC Sabah Women Entrepreneurs Committee Vice Chairperson Yong Hui Sun (pic) said the Chamber, under the leadership of President Datuk Dexter Lau, has consistently engaged with the Government to raise industry concerns and support policies that promote fair and competitive business conditions.
window.googletag = window.googletag || {cmd: []};googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.defineSlot('/22826383987/dailyexpress_inline', [1, 1], 'gpt-passback').addService(googletag.pubads());googletag.enableServices();googletag.display('gpt-passback');});“The Chamber agrees with State Finance Minister Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun’s emphasis on eliminating grey areas in the ordinance,” she said in a statement on Tuesday.
Yong said the main issue for the business community is legal uncertainty, as unclear provisions and inconsistent interpretations increase costs and erode investor confidence.
“We fully support the State Government’s efforts to set clear rules and appeal channels that protect taxpayer rights and create a more predictable business environment,” she said.
Yong added that transparency is especially important for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), including women-led businesses, which are often more affected by unclear regulations due to limited resources.
She noted that the amendment reflects not only a legal update, but also the government’s willingness to engage the business sector in policy-making.
“A clear, enforceable framework gives both authorities and businesses a defined structure to operate within.
“We appreciate Minister Masidi’s stance that the law must be ‘crystal clear.’ This ensures both proper enforcement and clear boundaries for business operators,” she said.
She also urged the State to provide proper training to enforcement officers and organise more briefings for the business community once the amendment is passed, to ensure consistent interpretation and application of the law.
“Fair and transparent systems are the foundation for long-term business confidence.
“If the Government and business community move forward together, Sabah is in a strong position to attract sustainable investment,” Yong said.
