Kuala lumpur: The Ministry of Finance (MoF), in collaboration with the Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development (KPWKM), is conducting an in-depth study on a proposal to exempt elderly care centres from the Sales and Service Tax (SST). Deputy Finance Minister Liew Chin Tong highlighted that the study involves reviewing the current service tax structure to differentiate between care centres offering basic or premium services. The initiative aims to prevent the eight per cent service tax from adversely impacting vulnerable groups already dealing with high living costs.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Liew emphasized the importance of considering feedback from all stakeholders before finalizing the study. He was responding to Lee Chuan How (PH-Ipoh Timor), who advocated for exempting Malaysians from the SST on elderly care services provided by registered care centres with the Social Welfare Department (JKM). Lee argued that the SST adds financial strain on families, with monthly fees around RM2,500 significantly increasing their expenses.

Liew further reassured that the ministry is ready to undertake working visits to the affected care centres to evaluate the situation faced by operators. These visits, in collaboration with KPWKM, will include engagement sessions with operators to gain a detailed understanding of the issues. Liew stated, "I am prepared, together with my officers, to make visits with KPWKM concerning the elderly care sector. We will focus on resolving issues affecting the elderly before looking into other areas."

Meanwhile, Dewan Rakyat Deputy Speaker Datuk Dr Ramli Mohd Nor, upon adjourning the session, shared that the Special Chamber sessions during the Second Meeting of the Fifth Session of the 15th Parliament saw 63 motions tabled under Standing Order 17 over the 16-day sitting. The motions involved discussions and explanations from 18 ministries, along with one ministerial briefing. Ramli noted that the sessions allowed both government backbenchers and opposition Members of Parliament to chair the proceedings, providing opportunities for nine government backbenchers and three opposition members to lead under Standing Order 16(3).