How should we judge a government?

In Malaysia, if you don't watch television or read newspapers, you are uninformed; but if you do, you are misinformed!

"If you're not careful, the newspapers will have you hating the people who are being oppressed, and loving the people who are doing the oppressing." - Malcolm X

Never argue with stupid people, they will drag you down to their level and then beat you with experience - Mark Twain

Why we should be against censorship in a court of law: Publicity is the very soul of justice … it keeps the judge himself, while trying, under trial. - Jeremy Bentham

"Our government is like a baby's alimentary canal, with a happy appetite at one end and no
responsibility at the other. " - Ronald Reagan

Government fed by the people

Government fed by the people

Career options

Career options
I suggest government... because nobody has ever been caught.

Corruption so prevalent it affects English language?

Corruption so prevalent it affects English language?
Corruption is so prevalent it affects English language?

When there's too much dirt...

When there's too much dirt...
We need better tools... to cover up mega corruptions.

Prevent bullying now!

Prevent bullying now!
If you're not going to speak up, how is the world supposed to know you exist? “Orang boleh pandai setinggi langit, tapi selama ia tidak menulis, ia akan hilang di dalam masyarakat dan dari sejarah.” - Ananta Prameodya Toer (Your intellect may soar to the sky but if you do not write, you will be lost from society and to history.)

Thursday, December 31, 2009

GST: good news to some but depressing to most...

My Australian friend, Ken, who is a practising accountant said one of his clients remarked that each morning when Ken wakes up, he should thank John Howard for introducing GST. He admitted that his revenue doubled as a result and that was why he had been visiting Malaysia every year since year 2000!

So, one thing that is certain for our PM for introducing GST will be the gratitude of public accountants in Malaysia. The requirement for every trader or service provider who is defined as under GST to submit quarterly returns (showing tax due to be paid or refunded) would necessitate proper records to be kept. For those small time business people (according to their previous tax returns which may or may not be true) who are used to preparing accounts based on incomplete records at the end of each tax year, they will have to make an effort to keep proper records throughout the year and this is where the public accountants will be gleeful about.

The chain of add-ons (of 4% at each stage of production) to the prices of goods and services will invariably increase their prices to end-users, the public. It does not make sense to say that it will not lead to inflation, as claimed by government leaders. It would be erroneous and misleading to compare with the 5% Service Tax based on the difference in tax rate alone.

There is an assumption that all the GST will be properly accounted for and paid to the government. We should expect leakages as there will be many businesses which would charge the required tax (whether registered for GST or pretending to be) but not necessarily pay them to the government.

GST is certainly depressing for most of us to think about in the new year of 2010.

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