If anyone harbours hope that the goods and services tax (GST) to be implemented tomorrow is just an April Fool's prank, deputy finance minister Ahmad Maslan assured that it is no joke.

"This is not an April Fool's joke, GST will be implemented," he said after visiting the Mydin Hypermarket in Subang Jaya today.

Ahmad touted the move by Mydin's chain of hypermarkets not to increase or reduce its prices as proof of the government's claim that GST will not burden the people.

"The prices of goods did not increase because of GST, this has proven that what I have spoken about GST is true.

"This is why the government is implementing GST. I can sleep soundly tonight," he said.

Ahmad said all 260 Mydin branches nationwide will bear the six percent GST.

He called on other traders to emulate Mydin in helping to lower the people’s financial burden.

During his visit to the hypermarket today, Ahmad said the current sales and service tax (SST) will be scrapped at midnight and replaced with GST.

Furthermore, he said businesses can file claims for SST that have already been imposed on existing stocks when the generally lower GST takes effect.

At present, he said SST is set at either 10 percent, six percent or five percent, depending on the product type.

Ahmad said this means there will not be double taxation and prices will either maintain or go down.

"Therefore, traders cannot use this as an excuse to add in an additional five percent SST in the six percent GST," he said.

According to Ahmad, traders can have their six percent SST claim back within 14 days if an online application is made, and 28 days if they are to apply manually.