KUALA LUMPUR: Former prime minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob supports calls to reintroduce the Goods and Services Tax (GST).
The Bera member of Parliament (MP) said this was to avoid the increase on prices of goods due to inefficient taxation systems.
"I agree with the views of several MPs for the GST to be reintroduced.
"Let it be introduced under any name, it is proven that this taxation system is more transparent and thus can balance the government's fiscal activities through revenue collection," he said at the Dewan Rakyat while debating the royal address today.
Ismail Sabri was interrupted by Chong Zhemin (Pakatan Harapan-Kampar) who questioned why the former did not implement the taxation system when he was prime minister in 2021 and 2022.
To this, Ismail Sabri replied: "I think you did not read the statement in the media.
"At the time, we made a statement saying that the cabinet had discussed GST and that the matter was being refined.
"On Tuesday, Finance Minister II Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan said the government had no plans to revive the GST
,which was abolished in 2018.
He said the government however remained committed to a progressive approach, focusing on targeted subsidies and taxation.
"It is not the right time now to reintroduce it, especially for low-income earners.
"The government will focus on improving the existing tax system and introducing taxation that does not affect vulnerable groups before considering new taxes like GST.
"This approach aims to increase government revenue gradually by expanding the tax base to those with a higher ability to pay," he told the Dewan Rakyat earlier this week.