Press Digest: Govt urged to cancel GST on interbank ATM transaction charge

PETALING JAYA: The government was urged to cancel the goods and services tax (GST) imposed on automated teller machine (ATM) interbank transaction charges.
Kuala Lumpur Consumer Safety Association president Samsudin Mohamad Fauzi said the new charge of RM1.06 could affect the consumers especially with the rising cost of living in the country.
He said the public had already paid several taxes and therefore it should be fine if the interbank cash withdrawal transaction system through ATM to be GST-exempt.
“The ATM service was provided to ease consumers to perform cash withdrawal transaction. However, the increase of transaction charge by 6% will burden consumers especially in areas with less ATM machines,” he said.
“The increase in charge will impact the livelihood of people in areas with few or lack of ATM facilities and therefore had to use the service of other banks,” he was quoted by Utusan Malaysia today.
Meanwhile, Malaysian Muslim Consumers Association chief activist Datuk Nadzim Johan said the 6% charge imposed on the service was improper as it burdens the users.
He felt that banks will not suffer any loss for maintaining the previous charge as there are companies which did not impose GST on their services.
“I am disappointed with the attitude of certain parties for taking advantage to gain more profits with the GST implementation,” he said.