Deputy Finance Minister, Datuk Chua Tee Yong, said this decision was made to encourage reading habits.
"Only notebooks or books that have no written notes will be charged GST as they are considered as stationery," he told reporters here today after launching Power Boat F3000 race in Danga Bay in conjunction with the celebration of the Johor Sultan's Coronation.
He said the GST would also not be charged on digital newspapers while digital books and all magazines would still be charged the tax.
Chua said
The race attracted 19 participats from seven countries, including Malaysia, Brazil, New Zealand, Thailand, Papua New Guinea, Brunei and Singapore.