Press Digest: Customs on the hunt for businesses who have yet to register for GST

PETALING JAYA: The Customs Department are hunting down 30,000 businesses that have yet to register for the Goods and Services Tax (GST) through "Ops GST'".
Berita Harian reported today that those found guilty would be slapped with a penalty.
Customs Department director-general Datuk Seri Khazali Ahmad said the government had already given ample time for the companies to register for the new tax system with the registration period extended to Feb 15.
"We have been very considerate but it seems that the companies are playing with us, thus we will hunt all the 30,000 companies and force them to register and pay the RM15,000 penalty. If they are unable(to pay) we will bring them to court," Khazali was quoted by the malay daily as saying.
He said the large scare operation that involves 5,000 officials commenced in Kedah, Kelantan, Terengganu and Johor on Sunday and has been expanded throughout the country on Monday.
The registration for GST by force has been implemented based on Section 21 (5) of the Goods and Services Tax Act.
As of Sunday, 345,965 companies had registered for the tax.
Meanwhile, Kuala Lumpur Customs Department acting director Abd Gani Othman said his department had already identified 10,360 companies that has yet to register.
In Kuala Terengganu, the state's customs director Datuk Hamzah Sundang said they will hunt 498 business premises that have failed to register.
"Our officers and members will visit these premises to conduct an interview and review the account status of the businesses, and if they are qualified to register, then we will force them to register," Hamzah said.
Sabah Customs director Datuk Dr Janathan Kandok said they have already started to hunt about 2,000 companies that failed to register.
"We already gave the companies the reminders and warnings for them to register before Feb 28, but they have failed to do so," Janathan said.