PM goes shopping, observes GST implementation

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak today shopped for some essential items at the Kota Damansara Giant hypermarket as he observed the implementation of the Goods and Services Tax (GST), which came into force today, and its impact on consumer goods.

"I noticed that the prices of goods here are reasonable and the essential goods are zero-rated as set by the government," he wrote in a post on his Facebook account.

Najib arrived at the hypermarket at 4.50pm, picked up a shopping basket and took several products from the shelves, such as toothpaste and Milo.

He uploaded five photographs onto the Facebook account, among them of him buying products, showing a receipt and posing for photographs and exchanging greetings with shoppers.

Najib shopping

Najib with his basket of goods at the Giant hypermarket in Kota Damansara. - BERNAMApic

The GST came into force today, and is seen as an important element in strengthening the national economy by taking into account the interests of the people.

With the implementation of the GST, Malaysia joins more than 160 countries which have already introduced this form of taxation, among them seven countries in Southeast Asia which are members of ASEAN.

The government targets to collect revenue from the GST, rated at six percent – the lowest among the ASEAN countries – for development and upgrading of social infrastructure.