Latest news with #LeeCheanChung
Daily Express
3 days ago
- Business
- Daily Express
Exempt mandarin oranges, dates from SST, says PKR MP
Published on: Thursday, June 26, 2025 Published on: Thu, Jun 26, 2025 By: FMT Reporters Text Size: Petaling Jaya MP Lee Chean Chung said small businesses and traders rely on the seasonal demand for fruits like dates to cover operational costs. (Bernama pic) PETALING JAYA: Petaling Jaya MP Lee Chean Chung today urged the finance ministry to consider exempting more fruits from the expanded sales and service tax (SST), particularly mandarin oranges and dates. He proposed that special SST exemptions be made for the two fruits during the Chinese New Year and Aidilfitri festive seasons, describing it as a targeted fiscal approach that would be sensitive to the cultural and religious needs of Malaysians. 'These two fruits are inseparable from major Malaysian festive celebrations – Chinese New Year and Ramadan, as well as Hari Raya Aidilfitri. 'Imposing a 5% tax on these fruits not only increases consumers' burden but also contradicts the core principle behind the expanded SST's implementation, which is to only target specific groups,' the PKR MP said in a statement. If the two fruits are not exempted, he said the expanded SST would place even greater pressure on small businesses and traders that rely on the seasonal demand for these fruits to cover operational costs. Lee's call followed Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim's announcement this morning that imported apples and oranges would be exempted from the expanded SST, which comes into effect on July 1. Although he believed that there was no need to consume imported fruits, Anwar acknowledged that many from among the B40 income group would buy apples and oranges, in part due to their affordability. The finance ministry previously said the expansion of the SST from July 1, including a 5% rate on imported fruits, was aimed at boosting local agricultural demand and strengthening food security. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
Free Malaysia Today
3 days ago
- Business
- Free Malaysia Today
Exempt mandarin oranges, dates from SST, says PKR MP
Petaling Jaya MP Lee Chean Chung said small businesses and traders rely on the seasonal demand for fruits like dates to cover operational costs. (Bernama pic) PETALING JAYA : Petaling Jaya MP Lee Chean Chung today urged the finance ministry to consider exempting more fruits from the expanded sales and service tax (SST), particularly mandarin oranges and dates. He proposed that special SST exemptions be made for the two fruits during the Chinese New Year and Aidilfitri festive seasons, describing it as a targeted fiscal approach that would be sensitive to the cultural and religious needs of Malaysians. 'These two fruits are inseparable from major Malaysian festive celebrations – Chinese New Year and Ramadan, as well as Hari Raya Aidilfitri. 'Imposing a 5% tax on these fruits not only increases consumers' burden but also contradicts the core principle behind the expanded SST's implementation, which is to only target specific groups,' the PKR MP said in a statement. If the two fruits are not exempted, he said the expanded SST would place even greater pressure on small businesses and traders that rely on the seasonal demand for these fruits to cover operational costs. Lee's call followed Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim's announcement this morning that imported apples and oranges would be exempted from the expanded SST, which comes into effect on July 1. Although he believed that there was no need to consume imported fruits, Anwar acknowledged that many from among the B40 income group would buy apples and oranges, in part due to their affordability. The finance ministry previously said the expansion of the SST from July 1, including a 5% rate on imported fruits, was aimed at boosting local agricultural demand and strengthening food security.
Malaysiakini
3 days ago
- Business
- Malaysiakini
Exempt SST on mandarins, dates during festive seasons, says PJ MP
PKR's Petaling Jaya MP Lee Chean Chung has urged the government to expand the sales and service tax (SST) exemption on imported fruits to include mandarin oranges and dates, in light of their cultural and religious significance to Malaysians. This came after Prime Minister and Finance Minister Anwar Ibrahim this morning announced that imported apples and oranges would be exempted from SST. While welcoming the move, Lee (above) said...
Borneo Post
26-04-2025
- Business
- Borneo Post
Visa-free extension heralds new era of Malaysia-China relations
Travellers are pictured at KLIA in Sepang on April 1, 2022. – Malay Mail photo KUALA LUMPUR (April 26): The extension of visa-free travel between Malaysia and China is a strategic move that not only reflects deepening bilateral ties but also promises to boost cross-sectoral cooperation in tourism, education, and business, experts said. The arrangement is expected to significantly enhance people-to-people connections, enabling deeper cultural exchange, understanding, and academic ties between the two nations. Universiti Malaya's Asia-Europe Institute (AEI) Deputy Executive Director, Associate Prof Dr Roy Anthony Rogers, said the mutual visa exemption will not only benefit both governments and businesses, but also pave the way for greater opportunities to strengthen people-to-people connections. 'The visa exemption will increase the flow of people, which is something we should encourage, because for the past 50 years, bilateral relations have been too focused on government-to-government engagement. 'It is time to promote second and third track diplomacy through this visa exemption,' he told Bernama. Echoing similar views, Chairman of the Centre for Regional Strategic Studies (CROSS), Lee Chean Chung, said the decision underscored the robust bilateral ties between the two nations, shaped by mutual trust and confidence. He said the initiative is poised to effectively promote economic growth across sectors such as tourism, academic collaboration, and healthcare tourism. 'This will allow a wider array of Chinese visitors to Malaysia, encompassing not only tourists but also parents accompanying students, and individuals seeking medical treatment. 'This extended stay supports longer staycations and short-term visits, potentially ranging from a couple of weeks to a month, which is undoubtedly positive news for Malaysia's tourism sector,' he told Bernama. 'When visits are short, interactions are limited. With more time, visitors can immerse themselves more deeply in the local culture and communities,' he added. Likewise, Lee said the agreement will also open opportunities for Malaysians to explore China more extensively. 'Previously, due to time constraints, many only visited coastal cities. Now, there's an opportunity to venture further inland and truly understand each other's cultures,' he said. During Chinese President Xi Jinping's state visit here recently, Malaysia and China signed 31 Memorandum of Understanding (MoUs), notes, and cooperation agreements spanning various sectors. Among them was an agreement on mutual visa exemption for holders of public affairs and ordinary passports, exchanged between Malaysia's Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail and China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi. On April 22, Saifuddin announced that the Malaysia–China visa-free period would be extended for five years. Under the Visa Liberalisation Plan (PLV), Chinese nationals entering Malaysia as tourists may stay for up to 90 days visa-free, with China reciprocating the arrangement. – Bernama China tourism travel visa-free
New Straits Times
26-04-2025
- Business
- New Straits Times
Visa-free extension heralds new era of Malaysia-China relations
KUALA LUMPUR: The extension of visa-free travel between Malaysia and China is a strategic move that not only reflects deepening bilateral ties but also promises to boost cross-sectoral cooperation in tourism, education, and business, experts said. The arrangement is expected to significantly enhance people-to-people connections, enabling deeper cultural exchange, understanding, and academic ties between the two nations. Universiti Malaya's Asia-Europe Institute (AEI) Deputy Executive Director, Associate Prof Dr Roy Anthony Rogers, said the mutual visa exemption will not only benefit both governments and businesses, but also pave the way for greater opportunities to strengthen people-to-people connections. "The visa exemption will increase the flow of people, which is something we should encourage, because for the past 50 years, bilateral relations have been too focused on government-to-government engagement. "It is time to promote second and third track diplomacy through this visa exemption," he told Bernama. Echoing similar views, chairman of the Centre for Regional Strategic Studies (CROSS), Lee Chean Chung, said the decision underscored the robust bilateral ties between the two nations, shaped by mutual trust and confidence. He said the initiative is poised to effectively promote economic growth across sectors such as tourism, academic collaboration, and healthcare tourism. "This will allow a wider array of Chinese visitors to Malaysia, encompassing not only tourists but also parents accompanying students, and individuals seeking medical treatment. "This extended stay supports longer staycations and short-term visits, potentially ranging from a couple of weeks to a month, which is undoubtedly positive news for Malaysia's tourism sector," he told Bernama. "When visits are short, interactions are limited. With more time, visitors can immerse themselves more deeply in the local culture and communities," he said. Likewise, Lee said the agreement will also open opportunities for Malaysians to explore China more extensively. "Previously, due to time constraints, many only visited coastal cities. Now, there's an opportunity to venture further inland and truly understand each other's cultures," he said. During Chinese President Xi Jinping's state visit here recently, Malaysia and China signed 31 Memorandum of Understanding (MoUs), notes, and cooperation agreements spanning various sectors. Among them was an agreement on mutual visa exemption for holders of public affairs and ordinary passports, exchanged between Malaysia's Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail and China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi. On April 22, Saifuddin announced that the Malaysia–China visa-free period would be extended for five years. Under the Visa Liberalisation Plan (PLV), Chinese nationals entering Malaysia as tourists may stay for up to 90 days visa-free, with China reciprocating the arrangement. – Bernama
