PUTRAJAYA: It is important for the Inland Revenue Board of Malaysia (IRB) to listen to and understand public sentiment, considering that taxation is a sensitive issue for all taxpayers, said Deputy Minister of Finance Liew Chin Tong.
He made the remarks in a statement following his maiden visit to the IRB headquarters, stressing the need for the agency to communicate clearly, in a manner that is easy to understand and satisfactory to all taxpayers, especially when changes or amendments to tax rules and legislation are involved.
He said effective communication is crucial in building public confidence in the country’s tax system, in addition to ensuring that policies introduced can be accepted and implemented more smoothly.
The IRB can also play an important role in boosting Malaysian companies, particularly local multinational corporations, by ensuring a level playing field between foreign and local companies, he added.
“During my time at the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (MITI), one of my main focuses was to change the paradigm in evaluating Malaysian companies. We often assume that only foreign companies possess technology, when in reality there are already Malaysian companies that have achieved high technological capabilities and are world champions in niche fields,” he said.
Liew said that a fair approach in the tax system is important to ensure that local companies are not sidelined, while supporting the agenda of developing national companies that are competitive at the global level.
Commenting on digitalisation, Liew said that IRB, which has a large database, has proven its capability in managing the implementation of Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah (STR), while continuing to carry out its core function as the government’s revenue collection agency.
“The success in managing the targeted subsidy programme BUDI95 (BUDI MADANI RON95) shows that Malaysia is among the countries that have succeeded in terms of digitalisation. These efforts need to be expanded to further enhance the level of digitalisation of government processes,” he said.
In this regard, he said the role of IRB is very important in ensuring the success of the national digitalisation agenda, as its operations involve a large segment of the population.
Meanwhile, Liew expressed his appreciation to IRB chief executive officer Datuk Abu Tariq Jamaluddin for the invitation to the visit.
He also conveyed his thanks to the officers and staff of the Tax Policy Sector, Revenue Collection Department, Dispute Resolution Department, e-Invoicing Department, Stamp Duty and Real Property Gains Tax (RPGT) Operations Department, Revenue Operations and Technical Centre, as well as all members of the IRB community. – BERNAMA
