The pain of paying extra with the introduction of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) is set to hurt womenfolk as they have to fork out even more for sanitary pads, claims DAP.

Kulai MP Teo Nie Ching alleged that the government has gone back on its word to reduce prices of sanitary pads as most retail companies have instead increased their prices.

"Second Finance Minister Ahmad Husni Hanadzlah when winding up the debate on the Yang Di Pertuan Agong's speech on March 25 said that the price of sanitary pads would go down after GST came into force, as sanitary pads were subject to 10 percent sales tax but GST was only 6 percent," she told reporters at the Parliament lobby today.

While the Consumer Price Guide by the Domestic Trade, Co-Operatives and Consumerism Ministry claimed the price of pads would be reduced by two percent after GST, a check at popular supermarkets like Tesco revealed that the prices have gone up from two to six percent for four popular brands.

"A comparison shows that the price of most, if not all sanitary pads, regardless of its brand and type, goes up and not down.

“Is this another mistake made by the merchants or does it show that the words of our minister does not have any value at all?," she asked.

She urged the government to immediately rectify the matter.

Petition launched

She also called on the public to sign an online petition titled 'Stop taxing Malaysian women for their periods! Period.' aimed at garenering a GST exemption for sanitary pads.

The petition was started by Kamelia Shamsuddin on the website and so far has garnered 12,180 signatories.

The petition which began two weeks ago has set a target of 15,000 signatories.

 

Kamelia stressed in her article that women should not be punished with extra taxes based on their biological needs.

"While the government may be fully justified to tax a host of services and products for the country's profits, this should not extend to feminine sanitary products that we need on a monthly basis.

"We should not be penalised for simply being born a woman," the article read.