By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, Apr 29: The Kuching and Samarahan Hawker and Trader Association has appealed to the federal government to reconsider and abolish the proposed e-invoicing requirement for businesses with an annual turnover between RM150,000 and RM500,000.
In a press statement, the association reasoned that many small traders and hawkers face challenges in adopting electronic systems due to limited technological skills and resources.
“Enforcing this requirement would unnecessarily burden small businesses that are already operating on tight margins,” it said.
This followed the association’s 48th annual general meeting (AGM), which was held on Sunday (Apr 27).
In February, the government delayed the implementation of the third phase of e-invoicing to Jan 1 next year from July 1, 2025, originally. The third phase of the full implementation of e-invoicing would have involved all types of businesses, including micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs).
The implementation of e-invoicing began on Aug 1, 2024, for companies with annual sales exceeding RM100 million.
From Jan 1, 2025, the second phase of e-invoicing began for companies with annual sales between RM25 million and RM100 million.
The government has allowed an exemption from the e-invoice issuance to small businesses with annual sales below RM150,000.
At the same time, the association also expressed concern over the recent imposition of tariffs by the United States, which the association said is expected to impact general business sentiment and slow down trade activities negatively.
“We strongly advise all members to review and manage their stock levels carefully to prepare for any potential business slowdown in the coming months.”
Meanwhile, the association also thanked the Sarawak government for introducing the Sumbangan Keperluan Asas Sarawak (SKAS) food grant, which provides support for small traders and hawkers to sustain their businesses.
In addition, they expressed gratitude towards the State government’s free tertiary education initiative, which will ease their members’ financial burdens and make higher education more accessible.
“The association remains committed to standing by our members, ensuring their voices are heard and their livelihoods protected.” — DayakDaily
