Roadshow by Finance Ministry to explain GST

The Finance Ministry is to go on a roadshow to explain the proposed Goods and Services Tax (GST) to the people, particularly those in the rural areas.

Deputy Minister Datuk Ahmad Maslan said Tuesday the ministry would also make use of the mass media to disseminate information on the GST.

"We also have a dedicated website, www.gst.customs.gov.my. We will also use the main television channels for the purpose, and it will be done soon," he told Bernama during a door-to-door visit in the Batu 16 polling district in the Sungai Limau state constituency in the run-up to polling on Nov 4 in the by-election.

Ahmad said it would be explained that the GST to be implemented in the country on April 1, 2015, would be the best among those in the 200 countries that had introduced the tax.

He was asked to comment on the approach the ministry would adopt to explain the GST to the people so that it would not be manipulated by irresponsible people. Prime Minister and Finance Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak announced the implementation of a six per cent GST from April 1, 2015, when he tabled Budget 2014 in the Dewan Rakyat last Friday.

Ahmad, who is also Umno Information chief, said the Barisan Nasional (BN) was sensitive to the issues concerning the welfare of the people of Sungai Limau, particularly in terms of their housing needs.

The BN government would help people repair dilapidated houses under the 'Kasih Felda' programme, he said, adding that 200 houses in the constituency would be repaired beginning December.

Earlier, Ahmad visited the home of farmer Ismail Abdul Rahman, 66, in Batu 16, and handed over essential goods and cash.

The Sungai Limau state by-election is a straight fight between Dr Ahmad Sohaimi Lazim, 52, of the BN and Mohd Azam Abd Samat, 37, of PAS.