By Syauqi Jamil
KUALA LUMPUR: For the first time in history, Pakatan Harapan lawmakers had gotten their first ‘Parliament Victory’ after the Dewan Rakyat had passed the Sales Tax Bill 2018.
Right after the sitting was adjourned by Speaker Mohamad Ariff Md Yusof, Amanah Lumut lawmaker Dr Mohd Hatta Ramli jested the matter which draws laughter from MP from both sides.
“For the first time, we won,” said the Entrepreneur Development Deputy Minister in the Dewan Rakyat last night.
The Dewan Rakyat had approved the Sales Tax Bill 2018 via voice vote at the second reading, and third reading without any debates. It will now be handed to Dewan Negara for debate and approval.
During the second reading, when it was time for voting for the Bill, Barisan Nasional (BN) Beluran MP Ronald Kiandee had asked the floor to move the bill forward to a select committee under the Standing Order 54 (2).
However, his request was rejected by a majority of MP which lead Kiandee to then asked for a bloc vote.
The bloc voting had resulted in 111 MPs disagreeing to discuss the Bill at a select committee and 51 agreed while 4 MPs abstained from voting.
Still to come before the Pakatan Harapan government abolish the Goods and Services Tax (GST) and replacing it with a returning Sales and Services Tax (SST) are the Services Tax Bill 2018 (SST), as well as Goods and Services Tax (GST) (Repeal) Bill 2018,
SST is scheduled to kick off on Sept 1. It was reported that under SST, sales of goods will incur a 10% tax, while the provision of services will be taxed at 6%.
