As per Prime Minister’s announcement during Budget 2016 back in October, prepaid users will be able to enjoy GST rebate scheme starting from 1 January 2016. The actual mechanism for the rebate was not revealed during the announcement though but the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) has finally shed some light on the subject recently through its official website.
In general, users will be able to utilize their prepaid reload value in full under the scheme. In fact, the price of prepaid will be reverted to pre-GST price starting from 1 January 2016. However, the mechanism stated that GST will be first deducted when users reload their prepaid account and only then the deducted amount will be reimbursed back into users’ account within 24 hours.
As an example, when users purchase their RM 10 prepaid coupon on 1 January 2016, the coupon should be priced at RM 10 instead of RM 10.60. When they utilize the coupon, they will then receive airtime worth RM 9.43 while RM 0.57 will be deducted as GST. The RM 0.57 will then be returned to their prepaid account within 24 hours.
True to the original announcement, the GST rebate scheme is meant only for Malaysians. Interestingly, it will be applied automatically based on the data provided by users when they registered for their prepaid account. Hence, MCMC has advised users to verify their registration details with telcos before the scheme kicks in this coming January.
Meanwhile, MCMC has also pointed out that this GST rebate scheme will only last until 31 December and it will remain so unless the government decides to extend it further.
(Source: MCMC. Additional images: FZ Graphics, mStar)
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