KUALA LUMPUR, June 11 — The government will continue to ensure essential goods like rice, cooking oil, vegetables, chicken and fish remain tax-free to safeguard the people’s food security.
Agriculture and Food Security Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu said the implementation of revised Sales Tax (ST), effective July 1, only involves selected and premium goods, at a rate of five per cent or 10 per cent.
The items in this category include truffle mushrooms, racing bicycles, and king crab.
“This is a balanced approach where most people will not be affected, while those who are better off can contribute fairly to the country’s development.
“InsyaAllah, the Madani government will continue to ensure policies that are formulated are centred on the principles of social justice and well-being of the people,” he said in a Facebook post.
Based on the Finance Ministry’s explanation, a zero per cent sales tax is maintained for daily essential goods, including chicken, beef, lamb, fish, shrimp, squid, vegetables, local fruits, rice, barley, oats, wheat, flour, canned sardines, sugar, and salt.
Also included are white bread, pasta, vermicelli, noodles, instant noodles, milk, cooking oil, medicine, medical devices, books, journals, newspapers, and pet food.
Zero per cent sales tax is also retained for basic construction materials, including cement, bricks, and sand, as well as agricultural sector inputs, including fertilisers, pesticides, as well as agricultural and livestock machinery.
The ministry added that the Madani government had taken measures to ensure the ST is not imposed on daily essential goods to avoid directly affecting the cost of living for the majority of Malaysians and to maintain a controlled inflation rate.
— Bernama
The post Minister: Govt ensures essential goods stay tax-free, safeguarding food security appeared first on Selangor Journal.
