Key things to do before implementing GST

What Malaysia needs doing before the goods and services tax (GST) is implemented or enforced in April, 2015 are namely:

1. To repeal archaic laws, rules and policies pertaining to foreign investments in Malaysia, a stumbling block that is driving away foreign investors to neighbouring countries. Inevitably it would lure back investors to set up businesses, factories, production plants, etc, etc.

We need more foreign investors – that help generate foreign exchange for Malaysia and provide employment.

With more foreign investors we will get to strengthen our foreign exchange when money ‘pours’ in from other nations.

In fact, getting money from GST is like taking from one pocket and putting it back inside the other pocket. If all these take place within the nation, I mean money obtained from within the nation does not make the country any richer nor would strengthen our present weak Ringgit.

2. To turn Malaysia a high-income nation by 2020.

3. To do whatever it takes to provide jobs for new graduates and also to guide students into taking the right courses of study that will lead them to a job upon graduation.

4. To revamp the police force and armed forces to give the public a better sense of security, peace and order. Also to install more CCTVs in busy places, streets, back lanes and alleys and in secluded car parks. Currently there are cases or incidences of people murdered every day, let alone becoming victims of snatch thefts and robberies which are also rampant.

5. To get policemen to walk on beats (on foot) instead of sitting down under the umbrella waiting for an untoward  incident to occur like what takes place (happens) in Subang Jaya. However, driving through the township is an eyewash, as it takes only a few minutes to drive past a roadblock.

Okay, the government should come clean and tell the rakyat what is GST to be used for?   Because in the Philippines a part or rather a big percentage of the revenues collected from GST will be used or given to education and also to healthcare.

I was told that citizens in the Philippines pay less GST than tourists. This is people-friendly as it does not make the poor, poorer.

By the way, will there be GST refund stations put in place at all exit points like in airports and seaports to allow visitors or tourists who come to Malaysia for medical care and treatment to get refunded for what they had paid?

If the nation intends making health tourism a money turner, then, the government should give a refund to make it cheaper for tourists to come here for medical care and treatment.

Whatever, the bottomline is it is not the right time to implement GST in Malaysia, not until we have become a high-income nation and a developed nation.