THE government is open to studying the need to combine the Sales and Services Tax (SST) with the Goods and Services Tax (GST) to improve the country's taxation system towards a more progressive one, said Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
The Prime Minister said the government will, however, maintain the SST as the basis of the current taxation system, but did not rule out the possibility of accepting some GST features suitable to create a better taxation system.
"Regarding GST, our SST is open to study to improve the taxation system, but if we want to talk about GST alone, I have concerns, as I have repeatedly expressed.
"It would mean that people who have never paid taxes must pay. With the cost of living, it will be a burden on the people. That is why we use the SST base, but if there are some adjustments, we can do it," he said.
He was speaking to reporters after an engagement for the 2027 federal budget at the finance ministry today.
Asked about any specific plans for the M40 group in the 2027 Budget, Anwar, who is also the Finance Minister,
said the government has listed several priorities to ease the burden on the group.
Meanwhile, Anwar also said that the investigation into the Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) report on Tabung Haji (TH) is not limited to a set period.
He said there was no obstacle for enforcement agencies to conduct investigations beyond the period that was the focus of the RCI.
Yesterday, UMNO Supreme Council member Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Maslan urged the government to extend the TH RCI report from 2021 to 2026 and not just 2014 to 2020.
He claimed that the sale and purchase of TH assets also occurred from 2021 to 2026 and not only from 2014 to 2020. – August 18, 2026
