Finance Ministry: More than 1,800 items exempted under SST, triple the number under GST
Malaysia's Finance Ministry clarified that the Sales and Service Tax (SST) exempts 1,826 items, over three times more than the 607 items exempted under the previous Goods and Services Tax (GST). Exempted items include essential food items like meat, fish, vegetables, rice, flour, sugar, and cooking oil, as well as medicines, medical devices, and reading materials. Livestock feed, construction materials, fertilizers, pesticides, and agricultural machinery are also SST-exempt. While SST covers 70% of services, down from 76% under GST, exemptions include public transport, rural air services, prepaid telecoms, food delivery, residential rentals, and utilities below a certain threshold. These measures aim to minimize double taxation and reduce living costs.
