KOTA KINABALU: The Royal Malaysian Customs Department has been urged to refund the input tax to businesses, especially to the small and medium enterprises (SMEs), as soon as possible.
Minister of Special Tasks Datuk Teo Chee Kang said the Customs and other relevant departments should be concerned about the difficulties faced by businesses, especially the SMEs.
“The SMEs do not have strong or sufficient capital, so it is important that the Customs Department refund the input tax to them as soon as possible,” he said in an interview after officiating at the 40th annual general meeting (AGM) of the Sabah United Chinese Chambers of Commerce (SUCCC) here yesterday.
Besides the uncertainty in the global economy, Teo said businesses were still in the process of adapting to the minimum wage policy implemented last year and the Goods and Services Tax (GST) that came into effect not long ago.
Nonetheless, Teo was optimistic that the challenges were only temporary.
“I am confident that the intelligence of businesses, especially the Chinese business community with their business methods and innovative minds, will be able to resolve (the challenges) in the near future.
“Maybe in six months to a year,” he added.
In addition, Teo said there were bound to be hiccups here and there at the initial stage of the implementation of any policies, like the claim for (input tax) refund from the Customs Department.
“I urge the Customs Department and other relevant departments to be concerned about the difficulties faced by businesses, especially the SMEs.”
On the cabotage policy, Teo said himself, Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Pairin Kitingan, state government officials, as well as local industrial and business players had attended a meeting chaired by the Minister of Transport (MOT) Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai.
“In the meeting, we have voiced out the wishes of the industrial and business players in Sabah, which garnered the attention of MOT.
“I believe MOT is studying how to handle this issue,” he said, adding that the state government would follow up on this matter.
Earlier in his speech, Teo said SUCCC had been frozen for 10-odd years since its election crisis in 2002.
In 2012, Teo said SUCCC held a re-election which saw Datuk Seri Panglima Gan Sau Wah being elected to helm the association.
With limited resources and facilities, Teo said Gan had restructured and enhanced the efficiency of the SUCCC secretariat, which allowed the association to restore its operations once again.
He continued to say that there would always be people who agree and people with different opinions in a community association despite how much hard work and dedication one has exerted.
“The real influence and prestige of SUCCC does not solely depend on the leadership, it relies considerably on the teamwork among the management committee and sub-committees, as well as the support and contribution of members.”
On the other hand, Teo said the main factors considered by investors were the local economy and political stability.
“Fortunately, Sabah’s political and economic environment has always been good and stable.”
As a Chinese minister in the state cabinet, Teo said he would do his level best in providing assistance and viable suggestions to the Chinese community, especially to SUCCC.
“The Chinese community has high expectations for SUCCC; therefore, the association must keep abreast with the times.”
In this aspect, Teo said he would work together with the Chinese community and remain with them in good times and bad times.
