Malaysia has a few ways to make good revenue shortfall from zero GST

THE groundbreaking general election in Malaysia on May 9 has thrown up many new paradigms and possibilities which investors could never have calculated even the week before.

Not unexpectedly, policy reversals have become somewhat of a norm under the "new normal" in Putrajaya. One of the most significant will be the new government's decision to "zero rate" the Goods and Services Tax (GST).

Not surprisingly, it was greeted with glee by the populace, who feels that the 6 per cent tax exacerbates the already-high and rising living costs in the country.