KUALA LUMPUR (June 19): The Royal Malaysian Customs Department has reversed its plan to impose Goods and Services Tax (GST) on 60 types of food from July 1.
 
In a statement today, the department said after referring the matter to the Finance Ministry, it has decided to cancel the order to remove these items from the list of zero-rated goods and services.
 
The items include eel, swordfish, corn, frozen vegetables, imported fruits (avocadoes, apricot, grapes, cherries, peaches and plums) and margarine.
 
The statement did not mention the reason for the cancellation.
 
The local media had reported that the 60 zero-rated food items would be subject to the 6% GST from July 1, after the order was gazetted.

According to the Attorney-General’s Chambers website, Second Finance Minister Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani had filed the federal gazette order on June 6 and it was pending presentation to the Parliament.