Allocation for 11MP can be obtained by improving IRB's taxes - Ahmad Maslan

The development expenditure allocation for the 11th Malaysia Plan (11MP) is believed to be made available through various efforts, including by improving the Inland Revenue Board's (IRB) taxes.

Deputy Finance Minister Datuk Ahmad Maslan said the move to improve IRB taxes would inadvertently generate more revenue for the country and hence, ensure success of the 11MP agenda.

"The RM260 billion allocation for the 11MP development expenditure as announced by the prime minister yesterday (Thursday) must be acquired through taxes collected by the IRB, such as income tax, stamp duty and corporate tax.

"That's why we need to improve the efficiency of the tax collection system so that the 11MP can run smoothly and successfully," he told after visiting the IRB's Revenue Service Centre here on Friday.

Ahmad said the improvement of taxes should focus on four methods, namely of e-filing, tax education, audit and enforcement.

The deputy minister said through the e-filing method, the IRB must make optimal use of the efficiency of new technology to help the people to pay their taxes easily as this method would also encourage them to pay their taxes.

"People should also be exposed to tax education so that they will understand the actual concept...among the reasons the Goods and Services Tax (GST) received lukewarm response was because the public had yet to truly understand the importance of taxation system and services.

"In terms of audit improvement, we want an audit to be done from time to time to prevent company owners from hiding their gains and profits and in terms of enforcement, we want those who are reluctant and failed to pay their taxes be given a lesson," he said.