PETALING JAYA, April 3 — Complaints and inquiries filed over the Goods and Services Tax (GST) are a good sign and show consumerism in the country is alive.
Yesterday, Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Minister Datuk Seri Hasan Malek said close to 30,000 inquiries on GST were filed via the MyKira GST application and 1,829 complaints via the GST hotline on Wednesday.
Malaysian Consumers Association secretary-general Datuk Amarjit Singh Gill said he was astonished by the fact.
“The trend shows consumerism is rising as consumers do not want to be cheated and many are using social media to air their grouses,” he said.
“It is good consumers are voicing out their dissatisfaction and concerns as the government will be able to take appropriate action on their queries.”
Amarjit said GST affected everybody and he foresaw a rise in complaints and inquiries as there was still uncertainty and confusion on the new taxation system.
“It does not matter if you are rich or poor as everyone will be equally affected, whereas previously some matters only affected certain people,” he said.
“Inquiries will continue to increase until the public fully understand how GST works.”
Social activist Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye said the high number of complaints was a positive sign.
“Consumer activism has increased significantly compared to the 60s and 70s as more consumers are aware of their rights,” he said.
Lee said the MyKira GST app was a good initiative by the ministry as it provided a platform for people to voice their concerns.
“The government needs to continue relaying information to the public to avoid confusion,” he said.
Consumers Protection Association of Negri Sembilan chairman A. Vijayakumaran said the government should look into the public’s concerns seriously.
“It is consumers’ right to provide their feedbacks and through that, the ministry can figure out what is bothering the public and what they can do to solve it,” he said.
