SIBU: Bukit Assek assemblyman Joseph Chieng Jin Ek has urged the federal government to adopt effective measures in addressing inflation and rising prices.
He noted that Budget 2024 has proposed an increase of two per cent in sales and services tax (SST) from 6 per cent to 8 per cent.
“Fortunately, however, food, beverages and telecommunications services among other things will not be affected.
“Even so, now a lot of people have to resort to having two jobs. They get a part-time job in order to earn enough to supplements their families’ daily income,” he said.
He was speaking to reporters after handing over goodies bags to 57 Sarawak Central Region Single Mothers Association members in a brief ceremony organised by SEBERKAS Bukit Assek branch at the Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) Bukit Assek Service Centre here last night (Nov 15).
Chieng hoped that the government will look into the issue comprehensively and make the people’s lives easier.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim when presenting Budget 2024 in Parliament on Oct 13 said a number of taxation reform measures will be implemented next year to expand the country’s revenue base and at the same time not burden the majority of the people.
Anwar, who is also the Finance Minister, said the government plans to increase the service tax rate to 8 per cent instead of 6 per cent and this does not include services such as food and beverages, and telecommunications.
He also noted that the tax collected by the government is one of the lowest in Asean at 11.8 per cent of gross domestic product compared to Singapore (12.6 per cent) and Thailand (16.4 per cent).
