KUALA LUMPUR (Oct 27): Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said the government had so far spent RM338.8 million to implement the goods and services tax (GST). Malaysia implemented the GST on April 1 this year.

Today, Najib, who is also Finance Minister, said in Parliament the GST expenses, which were recorded since 2010, covered computer systems, accounting software subsidy, besides training and publicity expenses.

He said the government spent RM98 million on the MyGST computerised system developed by the Royal Custom Malaysia in 2013 and 2014.

A total of RM150 million was earmarked to subsidise accounting software in small-medium enterprises while RM52.8 million was set aside for training grants.

Najib said the government allocated RM38 million for publicity programmes.

Najib said this in a written reply to Kampar MP Dr Ko Chung Sen. Yesterday, Ko asked Najib to state the amount spent by the government to implement the GST.

Ko also asked Najib to state the refund amount since the GST's implementation on April 1.

Najib said between April 1 and August 31 this year, input tax refund claims amounted to RM8.7 billion. Of that amount, the government refunded RM5.6 billion, according to him.

"The rest of the amount would be paid in phases," he said.