Puteri UMNO proposes GST rate reduction to four percent

A Puteri UMNO representative proposed that the Goods and Services Tax (GST) rate be reduced to four percent to offset rising living costs affecting the youth.

Shah Alam Puteri UMNO division chief, Nurulhusna Yem, in making the proposal at the Puteri UMNO Assembly yesterday, said the reduction would not affect the government's revenue as it could still generate at least RM18 billion in earnings for the country.

She also suggested that the government expands and impose a nominal fee for the Community Development Department (Kemas) Permata programme which is currently in operation at 600 locations nationwide.

She said if 10 Permata programmes were added in all 222 parliamentary constituencies across the country with a monthly fee of RM100 for each child, the government could save up to RM66.6 million in child care cost.

"If the expansion of this programme is executed, the family institution will grow because child care problems would no longer pose an obstacle to have more babies," she said.

She also proposed for the government to establish a Women's Development Bank as a comprehensive measure to help entrench the group in the business field.

According to her, the National Transformation Policy would not likely be achieved if women comprising 50 percent of Malaysians were not given equal opportunities to improve themselves.