PETALING JAYA, July 9 — One hundred days since the implementation of the Goods and Services Tax (GST), Malay Mail spoke to members of the public to find out how they are coping. 

We asked if they are accustomed to GST and if they still pay attention to the receipts as when the tax was first introduced. 

We also asked about their main dissatisfaction with the tax and how they thought the government can improve the implementation of GST to make it easier on the people. 

Here’s what they said: 

Deepa Pasupathy, 41. 

Communications manager

“Yes, I have got used to it. Only at times would I actually look at the receipts, but my mother scrutinises them. What hurts most is when I have to cut down on outdoor family activities, like eating dinner outside or going to the cinema, as this really affects family time. As we progress as a country, I understand it’s a necessity. I’m not telling the government to put a stop to it, but to improve the quality of services. Be stricter with the businesses so that the amount we pay is justified. If people are happy with what they get, I think the additional six per cent would not matter.”

Nabila Huda Mohammad, 27.

Legal secretary

“Everything is already GST-iincluded, so I’m used to paying it together. I check every receipt, but I do not keep them. I can feel the pinch when I buy expensive stuff. As you know, the more expensive an item is, the more GST is imposed. I wouldn’t call it dissatisfaction, but that’s when I feel burdened the most. I’m trying to understand where the government is coming from, but maybe they can reduce the GST from 6per cent to 4per cent. The difference may be small, but it means a lot for the people.” 

Fadil Shukor, 42. 

Store manager

“I did not have any choice at all, I have to get used to it. I only check the receipts. The payment has been made, why should I keep the receipts? It is frustrating that everything is getting more expensive. On top of GST, the prices of grocery items, for instance, have also increased. Another thing, eating outside would cost you an average of 10per cent service charge with 6per cent GST, that’s an additional 16 per cent! I know the government is having a hard time, so I don’t want to be so hard on them. I look at it as a charitable act. The 6 per cent I’m paying can be considered as a way to help my poor government.”

Saroja Doraisamy, 52. 

Special needs teacher 

“Yes, I have got used to paying GST, and I don’t really keep the receipts. I understand we have to pay 6 per cent extra. But if you go to restaurants, it’s not just the 6 per cent, but there’s also the additional 10 per cent service charge. To make it easier on the people, I feel the government should just stop charging us GST.

Deborah Zsze, 32. 

Web designer

“Sometimes I don’t even realise that I am paying it. I only check the receipts when I eat outside, or when buying groceries. Actually, it does not bother me so much. I guess you can say I’m a bit ignorant, but I don’t really care about having to pay more. I suggest they reset GST from 6 per cent to a lower rate, say 3 per cent, and then, gradually increase it, so people could get used to the idea first and not feel too burdened by the tax.”

Naresh Kandasamy, 22. 

Customer service officer

“I guess I am used to paying GST. I only keep receipts of expensive things I bought, for my own reference. The more I spend, the more GST I have to pay. Everything has gotten expensive these days. The only way to make it easy, for me, is to stop the implementation of GST.”

Mohd Asshar, 26. 

Property agent

“I am still not used to it. It’s such a burden every time I have to fork out money from my pocket. Of course, I still keep the receipts. I have been doing it since April. I’m unhappy about the extra amount that we have to pay for every single thing — prepaid top-up cards, groceries, parking, even to use the public washroom. If possible, stop the implementation. Some of us are already suffering enough to make ends meet.”

Helmi Abdul Hamid, 64.

Retail assistant

“It’s automatically charged to the whole bill, I’m left with no option but to get used to it. I normally check how much GST is charged and then throw the receipts away. I don’t see the point in keeping them. Prices of things are still increasing, on top of that there is additional GST. How can I be satisfied? The government might not even listen to our suggestions, so I’m not going to waste my time and energy giving them any.”

P. Karthikeyan, 25. 

Customer service officer

“I only look at receipts to check on the GST incurred, but I don’t keep them. My main dissatisfaction would be having to pay more. When I buy expensive stuff, the GST charged is crazy. We are really feeling the pinch. If there is a way to put a stop to it, it would really help the people.”

Michael Yii, 43. 

Former teacher

“It’s not that I have got used to it, it is just that I cannot do anything about it. It’s not like they gave me a choice. My wife keeps all these groceries receipts, I don’t. It is a burden GST is imposed on things we need for daily use. I feel like the government should only impose GST on high-end products, like designer items, or when you eat out at premium cafes, not on basic necessities, like pharmaceutical products or even diapers.”