Review SST implementation: MCA Libaran Chief
Published on: Sunday, June 29, 2025
Published on: Sun, Jun 29, 2025 Text Size: Datuk Chin Kim Hiung SANDAKAN: The MCA Libaran Division has called on Prime Minister and Finance Minister, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to review the implementation of the new Sales and Service Tax (SST), set to take effect on July 1. The division argued that expanding the list of taxable goods to over 4,000 items would further burden the public, particularly low-income earners already struggling with high living costs. MCA Libaran Chief, Datuk Chin Kim Hiung made the remarks while commenting on motions raised during the division's Annual General Meeting on Friday. Chin clarified that the new SST rates include 5 percent (%) or 10% tax on non-essential goods, while basic necessities such as food, medicine, and construction materials remain exempt. 'However, we urge the government to ensure that daily essentials are not subjected to additional taxes to prevent further increases in the cost of living,' he stressed. MCA Libaran also pressed the Sabah State Government to ensure fuel prices are maintained—especially diesel and RON95—to avoid burdening industries and the public. Current fuel prices (June 2025): RON95: RM2.05/liter (unchanged) Diesel (Sabah/Sarawak/Labuan): RM2.15/litre 'Fuel subsidies should remain a right for Sabahans and together with subsides from SST collected from Sabah, be used to support infrastructure development, such as water supply, electricity, and roads,' said Chin. He further demanded that Sabah's petroleum tax revenue, which reached RM7.36 billion as of March 2025, be reallocated to the state for development purposes. 'Sufficient allocations must be given to the Sabah State Government to ensure proper implementation of basic infrastructure projects,' he emphasised. When asked by the media about seat distribution for the 17th Sabah State Election, Chin, who is also MCA Sabah Treasurer, stated that MCA would discuss the matter with Sabah Barisan Nasional (BN). 'We will respect BN Sabah's decision to maintain the spirit of unity within the coalition,' he said. In the 2020 state election, MCA Sabah contested four state seats: Likas, Kapayan, Elopura, and Karamunting.
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