Majority leader and Parliament Member for the North Hithadhoo constituency, Mohamed Aslam, has called on the importance of reducing import duty while raising GST.
Speaking in the Committee of the Whole House at the parliament regarding the amendments to the tax bill proposed by the government, Aslam said that MDP introduced the tax system to increase the state’s revenue and that during Nasheed’s presidency, MDP’s main goal was reducing import duty.
Aslam stated that once import duty was seen as a regressive tax, it was decided to remove it from many items. It was one of the biggest promises of MDP, he added. However, later governments re-introduced it, Aslam said.
"Let us move away from a regressive tax. Many of the import duty deductions have been restored by subsequent governments. I would like to tell the present government that when we raise GST, we should review the import duty deductions,” said Aslam.
Aslam said the MDP came to parliament in 2008 with a three-line green whip to introduce the tax bill. However, MDP was the minority party in parliament at the time, therefore a lot of work had to be done in parliament to pass the bill, he said. Back then, the former MDP PG Leader, the current President was in charge of the process, Aslam added.
Aslam added that the government's proposed tax increase is an important bill for the running of the state. and that the state revenue will not increase by deducting from some people's salaries alone.
Before concluding, he also highlighted the importance of ensuring equality of pay for the people.
Speaking in the Committee of the Whole House at the parliament regarding the amendments to the tax bill proposed by the government, Aslam said that MDP introduced the tax system to increase the state’s revenue and that during Nasheed’s presidency, MDP’s main goal was reducing import duty.
Aslam stated that once import duty was seen as a regressive tax, it was decided to remove it from many items. It was one of the biggest promises of MDP, he added. However, later governments re-introduced it, Aslam said.
"Let us move away from a regressive tax. Many of the import duty deductions have been restored by subsequent governments. I would like to tell the present government that when we raise GST, we should review the import duty deductions,” said Aslam.
Aslam said the MDP came to parliament in 2008 with a three-line green whip to introduce the tax bill. However, MDP was the minority party in parliament at the time, therefore a lot of work had to be done in parliament to pass the bill, he said. Back then, the former MDP PG Leader, the current President was in charge of the process, Aslam added.
Aslam added that the government's proposed tax increase is an important bill for the running of the state. and that the state revenue will not increase by deducting from some people's salaries alone.
Before concluding, he also highlighted the importance of ensuring equality of pay for the people.
