vox populi small thumbnail 'Is there a service tax or not? If it is not already passed on to consumers, it is just a matter of time. Why the unnecessary comedy?'

Telcos shelve pre-paid mobile service tax

USJman : Since it is a government service tax based on consumption, then the government should withdraw the tax to reduce the burden on the consumers.

The tax collected does not go to the telcos (telecommunication companies). It goes to the Royal Customs and Excise Department. Indeed, the decision for the 6 percent tax was made by the government in the first place.

ONG: "Pending discussions with the MCMC (Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission)"? What nonsense! The legal requirement to collect service tax on behalf of the government has got nothing to do with MCMC.

It comes from Ministry of Finance. Does this mean that F&B (food and beverages) outlets can or need to collect service tax only after consultations with local government bodies, which are the equivalent licencing authorities?

If the government feels that the service tax is a burden on citizens, the proper thing to do is to scrap the tax, and not to prevent business from complying with the law.

This must be the only country in the world where businesses need the government's permission to comply with a law made and imposed by the same government.

Vijay0779: It is really sad when companies like telcos are making millions, even billions of ringgit in profit and yet they try to impose service tax. The government declared the 6 percent tax as though many Malaysians are rich.

Why can't the government instead increase the dividend interest for savings and fixed deposits? Why can't the government come up with a law for companies to give their workers compulsory increments at a minimum 3 percent a year?

All the goods prices have gone up every year but how many Malaysian are getting increments annually to offset that?

Anonymous_40f4: Fooling the rakyat again. Najib told them to put the scam on hold until after the next GE. After GE, they can go back to milking the rakyat.

Keturunan Malaysia: I share your suspicions. This is all real crap. Is there a service tax or not? If it is not already passed on to consumers, it is just a matter of time. Why the unnecessary comedy?

Fairnessforall: What bull. This whole issue was a sandiwara by Umno just to show to the rakyat that Umno cares for them.

This was actually done on purpose so that Najib could step in and claim that he had solved the issue.

Who is Information Minister Rais Yatim trying to fool? Actually many people had already predicted that this would happen, so Rais, no brownie points for Umno here.

Snoopy: When Astro decided to hike its monthly subscription bill, there was much fuss as it was done without approval.

Rais Yatim told Astro to put it on hold because the cabinet has not approved it. However, the following month, the increase was implemented and nobody speaks about it.

Was there approval by the cabinet, I wonder. Now the service tax on prepaid - it will be another Astro-style story.

Myop101: Noticed something? Rais said he is recommending the government to provide them with some incentives. Any incentives given would only translate to either loss of revenue for or unnecessary spending by the government.

As usual, the government is treating their kitty purse as though it is theirs to do as they please. It is the rakyat's money for crying out loud.

Are we doing an indirect subsidy of telcos? I think it is ludicrous that the government is hell bent on not following rules it set and taking populist decisions that burden others.

Selangor to issue its own Class F licences

Freemsia: This will no doubt further encourage the competitiveness of bumiputera companies and definitely increase the competitiveness of the country.

But before this happens, I foresee Perkasa chief Ibrahim Ali and his group of dependent, rent-seeking, free-loading goons shouting and waving their keris and burning pictures of Selangor exco Dr Xavier Jayakumar.

Jedi_Who: This may be a beginning of a good thing. It might be a way of dismantling the centralised or proxy institutions of control used by the federal government, a bureaucratic wall of red tape and resistance that nothing can pass through unless one is willing to bow to Umno's supremacy.

2cts Worth: Xavier Jayakumar, that is a marvellous step. It bespeaks meritocracy and particularly 1Malaysia, of equal opportunities offered to all.

While the PM's 1Malaysia wobbles, your 1Malaysia has taken one giant step. This move will encourage competitiveness. While a certain privileged people used to be driven to complacency, they will now work harder to compete and it profits everyone.

Hello: The condition for Class F classification is registration with the Finance Ministry or CIDB (Construction Industry Development Board). But these two authorities are BN-controlled and they will either not register or dilly dally on any application from non-Malay contractors.

So we are back to square one. This doesn't solve the problem but only sounds like a solution. The Selangor government must look into this and consider alternative solutions.

Baiyuensheng: Until this news came up, I didn't know that non-Malays cannot bid for state government contracts. What the hell is wrong with the government?

They claim they are God-fearing and religious people, but have no qualms in suppressing minorities to the point of even restricting non-Malays from bidding. And to think we form 90 percent of taxpayers.

Mr KJ John: Xavier, please pursue this as a matter of public policy. It can be done; if executed well.

I did it when I was with Intan (National Institute of Public Administration) and all contracts of the lower categories went to owner-operators who were small bumiputera contractors trying to get started in business, and were very keen to meet requirement and keep costs down.

Do not allow or promote rent-seekers who only use their names to sell connections and collect rewards. This Umno-like ‘connect and collect culture' is what has destroyed our nation and reduced our competitiveness. I hear also many DAP and PKR-types thrive on this culture too.

 

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