Some GST-related complaints on social media false, meant to tarnish traders — KPDNKK S’wak
KUCHING: The public are urged to report any complaints concerning the Goods and Services Tax (GST) directly to the Ministry of Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism (KPDNKK) instead of highlighting the matter on social media.
KPDNKK Sarawak director Dato Stanley Tan said following the June 1 abolishment of GST, the ministry here found that several complaints which went viral on social media were in fact false information aimed at giving the traders concerned a bad name.
“When we checked the serial number of the product taken from the viral image of the receipt, the number doesn’t tally with the product shown.
“This proved that the receipt was in fact a fake one,” he told reporters when met during ‘Ops Catut 4.0 – Change GST Rate from Six Per Cent to Zero Per Cent’ at Everrise in Vivacity Megamall, here yesterday.
Tan stressed that KPDNKK takes cases going viral on social media seriously to ensure that regulations are complied with and that consumers’ rights are protected.
“But when we end up with complaints that are false, this wastes our time because our enforcement officers need to go on the ground and conduct checks on premises,” he remarked.
In view of this, Tan called on the public to report their complaints officially to KPDNKK by calling 0380008000 or its toll-free line 1- 800886-800; email to e-aduan@kpdnkk. gov.my or SMS ‘KPDNKK ADUAN <complaint details>’ to 15888.
“Alternatively, they can also contact KPDNKK Kuching’s operations room on 082- 466052 between 8am and 10pm.”
He said it is crucial that members of the public become the eyes and ears of the ministry by providing any information they have on traders who have yet to lower the price of goods according to the new zero-rated GST as KPDNKK does not have sufficient enforcement officers to conduct checks on all premises throughout the state.
“KPDNKK Sarawak currently has around 200 enforcement officers and this makes it difficult for us to check and monitor 100 per cent of the premises statewide.
“As such, we really need assistance from members of the public to inform us if they come across traders who have yet to lower the price of their goods, or are still being charged GST in their receipt. This is to ensure that the transition to zero GST is complied with effectively.”
Tan also pointed out that the premises being monitored by KPDNKK include supermarkets, hypermarkets, telecommunication device stores, clothing boutiques, restaurants, sundry shops, food and beverage outlets, home and electrical appliance stores, furniture stores, car spare parts shops, traditional medicine stores and vehicle workshops.
He said traders who flout the new regulation will have action taken against them under the Price Control and Anti-Profiteering Act 2011 where they can be fined RM250,000 for companies or RM100,000 for individuals.
Also present during yesterday’s operation were KPDNKK Sarawak deputy director Md Nawawi Abdul Rahman, Royal Malaysian Customs Department GST Enforcement Division assistant director Spree Awang Morshidi and Everrise Vivacity branch manager Jessie Hee.