GST complies with Syariah principles, ‘cleans’ fraud by traders

KUALA LUMPUR: There are two questions that need to be asked to those who claim and insist that the Goods and Services Tax (GST), which is scheduled to be implemented on April 1, does not comply with Syariah principles.

The first question: If the GST does not comply with Syariah principles, what is the verdict for other Islamic countries which have implemented the system way earlier than Malaysia?

Among the countries are Egypt, Jordan, Turkey, Pakistan, Indonesia and Kazakhstan.

The second question: Is the money collected through the GST in those Islamic countries, which is being used to develop the nations and the religion of Islam, is haram (forbidden) for Muslims?

In this context, the Malaysian Islamic Development Department (Jakim) has also been accused of ‘ cleaning the sins’ of the government by certifying that the GST as halal although the new tax system is akin to the ‘robbing the people’s property’.

Those who are dithering about the implementation of new tax system are probably unaware or may have overlooked the fact that a fatwa (edict) has already been issued by the National Council of Islamic Affairs of Malaysia in October 2014 that declares the GST to be allowable under Islam as long as there is a need for it by the country and the citizens.

The GST is based on expenses, and hence is equitable as one who spends more will have to pay more tax.

It is really unfortunate when certain individuals, who called themselves Islamic scholars, are willing to be used by the chauvinistic group to derail the implementation of the system.

The implementation of the GST will also uncover and clean all embezzlement committed by untrustworthy traders who all this while have been enjoying luxuries and proceeds of fraud in business. - Bernama