Don’t tax apples, oranges and pears
By KHOO GEK SAN
Nation
Wednesday, 18 Jun 2025


Malaysian favourites: Fruit trader Chong Kau Moi, 72, arranging fresh fruits at Chai Leng Park ‘Wai Sek Kai’ food court in Perai, in this file photo.

PETALING JAYA: Common imported fruits such as apples, oranges and pears are everyday staples for Malaysians and should not be subjected to a 5% sales tax, says Datuk Ameer Ali Mydin.

The Mydin Mohamed Holdings Bhd managing director said Malay­sia does not produce enough fruit to meet local demand, making imports essential to ensure a consistent supply.

“Fruits are a basic necessity, just like protein. While local varie­ties such as watermelon and bana­nas are available year-round, supply is insufficient.

“Seasonal fruits like rambutan, mangosteen and langsat are not always in season, so imported fruit is necessary. Otherwise, are we expected to survive on just watermelon and bananas?” he said when contacted.

“Our climate doesn’t support the cultivation of all fruits, such as apples, oranges and pears. Even strawberries are challenging to grow due to limited land in places like Cameron Highlands.

“On top of that, efforts to cultivate premium varieties – like Haru­manis mangoes – only add to costs.”

Under the expanded SST regime slated to be enforced on July 1, a 5% tax will be imposed on all imported fruits, while locally-grown produce will remain exempt.

For example, strawberries grown in Cameron Highlands will not be taxed, but imported ones will be.

Ameer expressed concern over the lack of clarity in the expanded tax as the government has yet to release a list of what will be exempted.

“The government has yet to release an exemption list, so for now, we have to assume all imported fruits will be taxed. The Prime Minister often refers to avocados, but not everyone eats them.

“We need transparency about what this tax actually covers. Labelling it a luxury tax is mislea­ding and risks widening the gap between income groups,” he said.

He added that while the policy may not entirely deprive the B40 group of fruits, it will certainly make them less affordable.

“It’s misleading to claim that essential goods for the B40 are exempt when basic fruits are included. The government should be honest, this is clearly about revenue generation,” he said.

Ameer added that the impact of the expanded SST on the prices of imported food will be compounded by other costs such as a 30% hike in cargo handling fees in Port Klang which will also begin in July.

Meanwhile, MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong echo­ed Ameer’s concerns, saying that the sales tax should not apply to fruits such as mangoes, apples, oranges and dates.

“The reason is simple – the B40 group also consumes these fruits. Local production cannot meet the high demand for fruits,” he said.

For instance, Malaysia only produces 19% of all mangoes eaten in the country while the rest are imported, Dr Wee said.

“All of these are far more affor­dable than avocados,” he said in a Facebook post yesterday.

Source: https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2025...anges-and-pears

so many malnourish kids and long term health repercussion

B40 eat local fruits.

Please don't tax Apple cos iPhone already very expensive

PMX don't care.

He just wanna generate Robin Hood image for himself.

And the elite tier in the Govt, never need to do grocery shopping sendiri.

taxing fruit is actually the stupiest thing i've ever heard from gov

KKM keeps asking malaysians to consume more vege and fruit, eat more healthy
thn on the other side the gov keep taxing these stuff

but refined sugar is tax free

Eat apples and orange doesn't mean we are rich eating imported stuffs la bmx. Everyday eat langsat rambutan ke

B40 don't eat fruit. Only fruit flavored syrup.

Abis la mkn meggi & minum milo je

Eh jgn bagi idea baru…

milo today is not only full of sugar, it's also expensive AF

Instead of taxing fruits, tax the rempits, lajaks and start a breeding tax.

malaysia mau bankrupt sudah ka tax sini tax sana

+999!!!

WHO DID YOU VOTE FOR?

dont complain...deserve anwar as PMX

Dik need money to build schools and hospitals in palestine

meanwhile anwar approve mahathir japan trip of 500k

BANKRUPT u said????????????????

first question, b40 buy fruits?
i born in t20 family also my father hardly buy fruits. what we eat the most were rambutan and mangoes because we got it from our trees.

Instead of taxing the rakyat, why don't collect back the money from these people?