Monday, June 01, 2015

People killing themselves because of GST? Government admit GST caused closure of businesses..?

2nd death due to GST?

Well, finally the Malaysian government has admitted that GST has resulted in the closure of businesses especially those owned by the elderly. Will the government honestly give us the figures of the number of businesses that have had to be closed, and also HONESTLY tell us the reasons this has happened, and the steps that will be taken to help such closed businesses.

Sundry shops run by elderly closing because of GST? 

GST: Thank you BN for bringing prices down by 10%? 4%? Thank you for getting rid of many 'kedai runcit'?

Najib shifting blame to traders for post-GST price rise when really blame should lie with him and the BN government?

Many of these businesses generally may not be making large profits - but they provided people with DIGNITY, SOCIAL LIFE, etc >> all of which is just as important as monies to sustain their life. Now, Malaysian Welfare Department assistance for the elderly is only RM300-00 [This is 2015, and this sum will certainly not even be enough to sustain a living] - a more reasonable sum may be RM1,000, and maybe they should be provided with FREE electricity, water, television and phone as well.  Many may have children that are earning income, but really these days not many are able to sustain the life of the elderly - some even are not bothered.




Jun 1, 2015

Malaysiakini

GST notches up death number two

A 68-year-old sundry shop owner in Johor Baru has hanged himself after having complained, in the last two months, of having difficulty in dealing with the Goods and Services Tax (GST) that was imposed on April 1.

This is the second such tragedy in the two months since GST was implemented, after that by a hardware shop owner who tried to kill himself three weeks ago after finding that he could not cope with the requirements of the new system that is operated online.

The newspaper China Press in its report today said Lim Tai Choon locked himself inside the shop before hanging himself.

The report said Lim had constantly complained to his family that he was not able to adapt with the GST system imposed on his sundry shop business and was very worried about his outlet being raided.

Lim was very stressed about his shop being closed down and despite advice from his family members, hanged himself. The shop has since been closed, his family members said.

Lim, they said, had met with a friend for a drink on Saturday and they lost contact with him later. The family discovered his body yesterday morning.

Lim, who started his sundry shop seven years ago, has been carrying a sullen face for the last two months and had told customers that he would soon end his business.

A fellow businessperson who knew him said Lim, who left behind a wife and three children, had claimed his wife's illness was the reason for his drastic decision.

No cash flow problems

Further, Lim did not look like having any cash flow problems for he only needed to pay a monthly rental of RM300, the businessperson said.

The suicide note left behind by Lim asked for his ashes to be scattered at sea, China Press reported.

The finance ministry has admitted that the implementation of GST has caused some businesses, especially those owned by the elderly, to close down.

"However, the GST is not the main reason why these businesses gulung tikar (close shop)," the ministry said in a written reply delivered to Parliament last Tuesday.

There have been reports of traditional businesses being forced to close down as the GST loomed, and some actually did during the two months of its implementation.

"These businesses were run by the elderly, by people who have no one to inherit their businesses and these were among the many factors that led to the closure of most of the businesses," the ministry said in reply to Lim Guan Eng (DAP-Bagan), who asked how many business premises had closed down because of the GST. - Malaysiakini, 1/6/2015, GST notches up death number two
 

Some businesses did close down due to GST

The Finance Ministry admitted that the implementation of Goods and Services Tax (GST) has caused some businesses, especially those owned by the elderly, to close shop.
"GST, however, was not the main reason why the businesses 'gulung tikar' (close shop)," said the ministry in a parliamentary written reply yesterday.

There were reports of traditional businesses being forced to close down as the GST loomed and some actually did during the two months of its implementation.

"The businesses were ran by the elderly group who has no one to inherit and these were among the many factors which led to the closure of most of the businesses," the ministry said in reply to Lim Guan Eng (DAP-Bagan) who asked how many business premises closed down due to GST.

However, the ministry stressed that the businesses concerned were those with revenue below the threshold of RM500,000. - Malaysiakini, 27/5/2015, Some businesses did close down due to GST
 
Financial Aid
Assistance for the Elderly (BOT) provides RM300 a month as subsistence allowance to senior citizens who need help to continue living in the community...but there are conditions... - Senior Citizen Services, Social Welfare Ministry Malaysia
 

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