The Chinese Malaysian business community has urged the government to step up measures to curb the rise in violent crimes because this has had an adverse impact on business.

NONE Association of Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Malaysia (ACCCIM) president Lim Kok Cheong ( left ) said this was frightening away investors and local customers alike.

"People feel scared and they don't commit to investments. Even our own people don't come out at night,” he told reporters today.

"The government has to take the necessary steps; there are firearms everywhere.”

He added that it is even more dire today, with prominent individuals who can afford to employ security and bodyguards being the subject of violent crimes.

“If senior people in government also kena (fall victim)... what about normal people?” he asked.

NONE While the ACCCIM has not received complaints from the 30,000 Chinese businessmen and trade associations it represents, its commerce committee chairperson Leong Kai Hin ( right ) said the impact on business is inevitable.

“Most pepople tend not to come out at night for shopping or to visit restaurants (due to crime) and this will affect the economy,” he said.

Private consumption makes up 51 percent of Malaysia’s economy.

According to police statistics released by the government, the number of violent crime has risen from 14,811 in January to June 2012 to 15,098 in the same period in 2013, representing a rise of 7.4 percent.

This despite overall reported indexed crime (crimes which occur with significant frequency) dropping by 2.7 percent in the same period.

A recent spate of shooting - resulting in an average one shooting a day nationwide over the past month - has also raised public concern.

Members ready for GST

Lim was speaking to media after presenting the results of the ACCCIM’s survey on the economic situation in Malaysia for the first half of 2013.

A total of 717 questionnaires were sent out to members, and 392 were returned.

Of this, he said, the majority of respondents “accepted the eventuality of the goods and service tax.”

However, most urged the government to start at a lower bracket and to give a two-year grace period for implementation.

NONE They also urged a cut in personal and corporate income tax, to compensate for the implemetation of the GST.

According to ACCCIM’s socio-economic research committee deputy chairperson Peck Boon Soon ( right ), the bulk of the respondents said the GST should start at 3 percent.

“Fifty five percent want it to be 3 percent, while 29 percent want it to be 5 percent,” he said, of the tax which Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak said will be implemented after the last general election.

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