17/05/2025

SATURDAY | MAY 17, 2025

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‘Income tax filing vital’

State places premium on education, says Sarawak premier KUCHING: Education must not be restricted and the community should be equipped with the latest knowledge to contribute to the development of human civilisation, said Sarawak Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Openg. He said in this regard, Sarawak places strong emphasis on fields of knowledge geared towards solving future global challenges, especially in technology and economics. “That’s why we in Sarawak have a dual language programme. Some say Sarawak always emphasises English, but we view it from both a language and knowledge perspective. “With today’s sophisticated technology, including artificial intelligence and new technologies, we must equip ourselves accordingly,” he said at the Malam Berambeh Segulai Sejalai event on Thursday. He said other initiatives include free higher education, which would be introduced starting next year, focusing on Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics disciplines. The event was held in conjunction with the 54th National Teachers’ Day 2025 celebration, with Sarawak as the host. Present were Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek, Sarawak Deputy Premier Datuk Dr Sim Kui Hian, Deputy Education Minister Wong Lah Woh and Education director-general Datuk Azman Adnan. – Bernama For enquiries or feedback, the public can contact Rapid KL through its official social media channels. – Bernama Jalan Ampang dedicated bus lane operating hours extended KUALA LUMPUR: The operating hours of the dedicated bus lane along Jalan Ampang will be extended to cover the evening peak hours starting May 19, from 4.30pm to 7pm on weekdays. Rapid Bus Sdn Bhd (Rapid Bus) said in a statement yesterday that the extension is being carried out in collaboration with the Selangor Public Works Department (PWD). It will cover a 0.62km stretch from the Jalan Memanda 1 junction to Jalan Memanda 9, and from the Jalan Cengal junction to the Jalan Wawasan Ampang traffic light junction. “The move will benefit passengers on route 300 (Pandan Indah – Lebuh Ampang Hub) and route 303 (Mulia Jaya Terminal – Lebuh Ampang), as well as feeder bus services from Pandan Indah, Bukit Indah, Mulia Jaya and Lembah Jaya.” Since the bus lane was introduced in 2023, the average daily number of passengers along Jalan Ampang has increased from 12,819 to 14,424 and reduced travel time by 10 to 15 minutes. Rapid Bus acting CEO Ku Jamil Zakaria said the improved travel time and smoother journeys are expected to attract even more commuters to use public transport. He also reminded all road users to follow traffic rules and not misuse the bus lanes as they are meant to benefit everyone. A three-month evaluation will be carried out together with the PWD, Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research and the Transport Ministry to monitor travel times, bus speeds, road safety and traffic conditions in the affected area. People are encouraged to plan their journeys using the PULSE app, which can be downloaded from Google Play and App Store. Real-time bus locations can also be tracked via Google Maps.

penalties if they later fall under audit. “On a national level, undeclared income contributes to revenue loss, weakens economic planning and shifts the tax burden onto those who are already compliant. “It also erodes trust in the fairness of the system. When only some people follow the rules, it discourages broader participation.” Logasvathi said to bridge these gaps, IRB has rolled out several digital and youth-focused initiatives in recent years. “Since January 2024, the MyTax portal has allowed Malaysians to register, file and manage their taxes entirely online. At the same time, outreach initiatives such as HASiL Your Tax Buddy and Program Sahabat HASiL have turned to social media to engage younger audiences. “The government is doing a lot to meet young people where they are, online. But the system still needs to be demystified. Tax education should be introduced in schools and universities so young Malaysians understand the process before they even start working.” For those new to the system, she said the steps to get started are more straightforward than many expect. “The first step is to register for a Tax Identification Number using the e-Daftar system on the MyTax portal. From there, you can access the e-Filing platform, declare all sources of income, including freelance or part time work, and submit your returns before the deadline. “There are tools to help, too. The MyTax portal is user-friendly, and IRB also offers a mobile app, a chatbot and a tax calculator to make the process easier.”

o Belief that those earning below taxable threshold, fresh graduates, part-time workers, freelancers do not need to declare income a misconception: Academic

Ű BY HARITH KAMAL newsdesk@thesundaily.com

“There’s a cultural mindset that tax is a ‘later in life’ issue. But the reality is, income declaration is a legal and financial responsibility that starts the moment you earn, even if it’s just from side jobs or freelance gigs.” According to the Inland Revenue Board (IRB), individuals with an annual employment income exceeding RM37,333 (or about RM3,111 per month) and who have a monthly tax deduction are required to pay tax. This threshold is calculated after deducting allowable tax reliefs and rebates from one’s gross income. However, even those earning below the taxable threshold are strongly encouraged to declare their income. Logasvathi said there are many benefits in doing so, beyond just compliance. “Young earners may not realise the advantages they’re missing out on. Filing a tax return helps build a financial record, something banks and institutions look at when you apply for loans, credit cards or government aid. “One might even be eligible for tax refunds or reliefs they’re unaware of.” She added that the consequences of not declaring income, even when no tax is owed, can be significant over time. “Individuals may lose out on financial opportunities, face difficulties verifying their earnings for official purposes and risk legal

PETALING JAYA: Although Malaysia has modernised its tax system and launched outreach efforts aimed at young adults, many new entrants to the workforce still misunderstand their income declaration duties, especially those earning below the taxable threshold. Universiti Utara Malaysia School of Economics associate professor Dr Logasvathi Murugiah said this misconception is especially common among fresh graduates, part-time workers, freelancers and individuals in the informal or gig economy. “Many young people assume that if they don’t owe any tax, they don’t need to declare their income. “Some believe that tax filing only applies to permanent employees or that low-income earners go unnoticed by the system, which simply isn’t true.” Logasvathi, who is a financial literacy expert, said the misunderstanding stems from several factors, including low tax literacy, confusion between declaring income and paying tax and the common belief that taxes only become relevant once a person starts earning a higher income.

The MyTax portal is user-friendly to facilitate filing of taxes online – AMIRUL SYAFIQ/THESUN

‘Repair collapsed slope near water treatment plant’ KOTA BHARU: The Energy Transition and Water Transformation Ministry has urged Air Kelantan Sdn Bhd to promptly repair the collapsed slope near the Bukit Remah Water Treatment Plant in Tanah Merah. Akmal Nasrullah said although disasters such as floods rarely have a direct impact on water infrastructure, the government is ready to help in recovery efforts.

“We have given Air Kelantan the option of whether to carry out repair works through Pengurusan Aset Air Berhad or apply for a special grant from the federal government. However, a decision must be made soon as the risk of further landslides is high,” he said after a working visit to the Tanjung Mas Water Treatment Plant construction site on Thursday. He said the upgrading works for the plant are progressing well. “Construction of the tube wells is expected to be completed by the end of this year before the plant’s pre-implementation phase commences.”

He also visited the proposed site for the construction of a riverbank water reservoir in Machang, which will be the first of its kind in Kelantan. He said a consultant has been appointed for the project and the ministry is awaiting official site confirmation from the state government before commencing detailed planning work. – Bernama

Its Deputy Minister Akmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir said a landslide in November last year damaged the plant’s inlet and outlet pipelines, and the pipe repairs have already been done. He said it is crucial to restore the slope before the upcoming monsoon season, which could potentially compromise the entire structure of the water treatment plant.