PETALING JAYA: The Customs Department has doubled its number of officers and given them intensive training to help people overcome teething problems that are expected to surface with the introduction of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) on April 1.
Apart from reaching out to the officers, Customs Department GST unit director Datuk Subromaniam Tholasy said businesses and customers could also turn to the department’s online guidelines and tutorials for help.
Refuting allegations that his unit is not ready to implement the GST, Subromaniam said they had trained 1,700 new officers who were also ready to crack down on wayward traders not complying with the GST.
“With the 1,700 trainees, we now have 3,000 officers in the unit nationwide – more than enough as most of our work is based on the high-tech system.”
Subromaniam gave his assurance that the department would continue to meet businesses and traders to address and resolve the issues they face when the GST is implemented.
“If any unique business situation crops up, we will have technical meetings with stakeholders to discuss it and sort it out.
“There may not be a specific clause under the GST law so the director-general will have to step in,” he said.
Subromaniam, however, advised traders and the business community to also be more proactive in utilising the guidelines in the department’s website at gst.customs.gov.my/.
The website contains guidelines not only for businesses but also consumers who have queries on the broad-based consumption tax.
Subromaniam said the department understood the worries of small traders and businesses, especially when it came to filing their tax returns and payments.
“They can always go to our offices and we are willing to assist them.
