Hoping Sabah Bumis won’t be left out of RM1 billion initiative
Published on: Thursday, April 04, 2024
Noraini also queried on the mechanism taken to ensure implementation of increase in Sales and Service Tax (SST) from six to eight per cent as the best step instead of returning the Goods and Services (GST) which is seen as more transparent.
Kuala Lumpur: Senator Datuk Noraini Idris hopes the recent announcement by the Prime Minister of an allocation of RM1 billion to produce more new Bumiputera entrepreneurs, will not exclude Sabahan Bumiputeras.
The Madani Government organised the Bumiputera Economic Congress (KEB) on Feb 29 Feb until March 2, this year which outlined more than 80 resolutions as an agenda for the empowerment of the Bumiputera Economy.
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The aim of this Congress was to find ingredients of a new approach and improve the Bumiputera Economic Empowerment agenda that is more fair, equitable and inclusive to improve the social imbalance and economic gap between the races in Malaysia.
“Among the resolutions reached is the encouragement of Bumiputera participation in the field of entrepreneurship and ownership of assets such as real estate. My congratulations to the Ministry involved.
“We hope this resolution will be open up equal opportunities for Bumiputeras of Sabah to participate in large-scale businesses and able to compete with entrepreneurs in the peninsula.
“This will ensure that Sabah no longer lags behind the development current of entrepreneurs in the era of the digital economy includes asset ownership and equity,” she said.
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She asked ministry concerned on new implementation of mechanism that would ensure equal opportunities are given to Bumiputera entrepreneurs in Sabah and Sarawak.
Noraini also queried on the mechanism taken to ensure implementation of increase in Sales and Service Tax (SST) from six to eight per cent as the best step instead of returning the Goods and Services (GST) which is seen as more transparent.
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"We heard complaints from traders who have to increase the price of goods sold at the Ramadan Bazaar by around RM1 to RM2 due to the increase in the cost of raw materials.
“For example, at Taman Tun Dr Ismail’s Ramadan Bazaar, the price of murtabak rose from RM5 to RM7. because it is said that the price of onions increased up to RM7 per kilogram. Likewise, the price of Roti John went up to RM9 because the price of black pepper, chili sauce and minced meat went up.
“Hence, it is not impossible that there is a potential for loopholes or tax deviations from SST, especially involving retailers. In fact, from the monitoring aspect, how can the Government ensure that the increase in the price of goods is at a set rate and that there is no manipulation in the market, especially involving daily necessities? I hope the concerned ministry will explain,” she said.
In addition, she said the increase in SST has caused increase in the prices of goods and services which will certainly put pressure on the inflation rate and people’s daily expenses.
“Although the Government basically exempts three sectors from the 8% SST increase such as the food/beverage sector, telecommunications and parking, but industries related to the supply chain logistics of essential goods are not exempted.
“Likewise, the decision to exclude water and electricity bills from this increase has not been finalized until now,” she said.
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