GST: Prices of sanitary pad increased despite govt's assurance

KUALA LUMPUR: Prices of sanitary pads had increased following the GST instead of going down as the government assured, said Teo Nie Ching (DAP-Kulai).
He said this is in contrary to Finance Minister II Datuk Seri Ahmad Husni Mohamad Hanadzlah's statement in parliament.
Teo said a check on the Tesco online store, where prices are the same as physical stores, Kotex Soft & Smooth Slim 10 pads are now sold at RM3.39 as compared to RM3.19 pre-GST, Libresse Maxi Non Wings 10 pads at RM3.19 as compared to RM2.94 on March 31.
"Is this another mistake made by the merchant or just goes to show that the words of our ministers and the Consumer Prices Guidebook published by the government have no value at all?" Teo said in Parliament's lobby.
Regardless, she supports the call by communications officer Kamelia Shamsuddin's initiative to have sanitary pads and other sanitary products to be excluded from GST.
Kamelia and her best friend had started an online petition on change.org to collect 100,000 signatures and had so far collected 12,000.
Teo added that Tiong King Sing (BN-Bintulu) should sign the petition to show that he sincerely cares for women and not merely poking fun at their biological needs.
Tiong told the Dewan Rakyat last month that women in his constituency had scolded him that women will be charged GST every month, and many MPs responded with laughter.
To this, Deputy Finance Minister Datuk Ahmad Maslan said prices of sanitary pads should not have been raised.