KUALA LUMPUR: The sales and service tax (SST) starts today and traders and operators are still in the dark about the new prices of goods.
They claim that they have not received information or announcement from suppliers regarding the new or adjusted price after SST.
The current government is implementing the SST to replace the goods and services tax (GST), which was withdrawn on 1 June to alleviate the burden of the people.
With the abolition of the GST, the government allowed a delay of three months, with products previously taxed under the GST having a zero rate.
Checks by Bernama in the city yesterday found that most supermarkets, shops and restaurants still had to make changes to the prices of goods to them and were still awaiting the new price list from suppliers.
A supermarket supervisor in Cheras, who wanted to be called Aswad, said the outlet was still maintaining the price of its products at the zero-rated Goods and Services Tax (GST).
"We are waiting for further information from suppliers about the new prices.
"At the moment the prices of goods are still based on the previous invoice, we are indeed informed about SST, but we are still waiting for further information from suppliers about the new prices, possibly we will see it next week, "he said.
A supermarket employee in Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman, who asked to be identified only as Hanum, said that no change in the prices of goods had been made because there were no instructions from supermarket management to do this.
"We know about the SST, which will start tomorrow, but it is uncertain whether the price will be higher or lower," she added.
A sales promoter from another supermarket here, Rohila Mohd Rozan, hoped that the implementation of the SST would not tax consumers, especially those of the lower income groups.
In PENANG, consumers seemed calmer and ready for SST.
Technician, Maaruf Hassan, 47, said irrespective of the taxes, GST or SST, it would be the consumers who would have to suffer.
"SST or GST, consumers will still pay more, because some traders will raise the price at will, that's the reality," he added.
He appealed to the Pakistani Harapan government not to abolish the Living Aid Assistance, formerly known as the 1Malaysia People & # 39; s Aid (BR1M), because of those in the B40 group because the financial assistance eased their burdens .
No panic purchases were reported in IPOH, Perak. Customers viewed in modest amounts despite reports in the social media and reports that some household items would be exorbitantly priced with the implementation of SST tomorrow.
Azura Mustapa, 42, said that the introduction of the SST would not result in a strong increase because only taxes were levied on certain products and services.
"Under GST, the price of most goods was high because they were taxed, but for SST only certain products and services are taxed," she added.
The government has assured consumers that there will be no significant price increases. This is because the 6% service tax and 10% sales tax is only imposed on certain products and services.
For the 20-year-old Muhammad Farhan Hakimi Muhammad Faizul, the expected rise in the price of cigarettes under the SST would be a blow to hardcore smokers.
"On a positive note, it is an initiative for smokers to quit the habit," said the employee in the private sector.
The shopping mood in a popular supermarket in Senawang, SEREMBAN, was different, with many people buying as much as they could yesterday, in anticipation of the implementation of SST today.
They saw their shopping carts filled with essential items and other supplies, and there were long lines at the cashiers.
Many of them, including Mohd Haizil Zainuddin, told Bernama that they were in stock,
The 28-year-old said that he did not want to miss the last day to shop for articles with a zero rate and the possibility that unscrupulous traders would raise the prices of certain goods from 1 September.
Restaurant owner Lee Foo Seng, 47, agreed with Mohd Haizil that he had spent RM600 yesterday to buy daily necessities.
Officer Mohd Fattah Luqman, 43, said that the implementation of SST would not be a problem because people paid the GST before.
Meanwhile, Negeri Sembilan Minister of Internal Trade and Consumer Affairs, Ain Arjuna Aziz Zaman, said that she had not received reports of panic buying by consumers in the state.
In SHAH ALAM, the situation in most shopping centers and supermarkets was normal yesterday.
Azurun Salamon, 34, who works in a government department, said that SST was not new because it had been implemented before 2014.
"With the implementation of SST from 1 September, the goods will be slightly cheaper than items under the GST," he told Bernama.
Private student N Khishali (23) said that the relevant government agencies should act vigorously when checking traders who raise prices at random.
"For the first year of the introduction of SST, the relevant authorities, such as the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Consumer Affairs, have to conduct frequent operations to check traders," he added.
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