GST: Use all available methods to report discrepancies

Consumers should use all the methods that have been made available to report any deception by traders or confusion over prices displayed since the implementation of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) on April 1.

Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Minister Datuk Seri Hasan Malek said the ministry wants more consumers to come forward and make complaints, so that it can check the premises involved.

"If we do it generally, there are too many premises to be visited so when people complain to us through SMS (short-messaging service), e-mail, MyKira GST and others, we promise that we will take action as soon as possible," he said, adding that the ministry would still continue its inspections as planned.

Speaking to reporters after attending a ceremony here yesterday, Ahmad said since the GST was implemented two months ago, the ministry had received a total of 6,410 complaints pertaining to GST through its e-complaints website.

"In April alone, there were 4,541 e-complaints, while from May to June 1 there were 1,869 complaints involving prices of goods, price tags and others," he said.

Hasan said cross-border enforcement also showed their effectiveness in which ministry officials from one area were sent to inspect business premises elsewhere.

"This has been found to be effective in taking action against dealers who violated the laws enforced by the ministry," he said.

In the meantime, he said a total of 405,942 business premises nationwide have been inspected since the 'Ops 2' operation began on April 1 until Monday (June 1).

"It involves seizures worth RM199966.70 and compound fines worth a total of RM184720," he said.

Meanwhile, ministry secretary-general Datuk Seri Alias Ahmad said there were still a few unscrupulous traders who took advantage of imposing GST along with the Sales and Services Tax (SST).

He was speaking to reporters after a operation led by Hasan at five premises here to detect dealers who imposed multiple taxation on goods sold.

"This operation involves traders who take advantage of imposing items with SST coupled with GST, in less than an hour we found five cases.

"Traders must show cause why they should not be summoned and we will get the invoice to make an inquiry under Section 21 of the Price Control and Anti-Profiteering Act 2011," he said, adding that the operation was just launched Tuesday.

He said the ministry had received 34 cases nationwide on the matter, since the launch.