What If GST Had Not Been Scrapped?

Published on 02 Sep 2026

Prof. Dr. Wong Chin Yoong | Academic Fellow

What would Malaysia’s fiscal position look like today if GST had remained in place?

In What If GST Had Not Been Scrapped?, Prof. Dr. Wong Chin Yoong explores this counterfactual scenario by comparing GST and SST revenue performance and considering what additional revenue could have meant for Malaysia’s fiscal position.

The article goes beyond the question of which tax system collects more. It considers how additional consumption-tax revenue could potentially be linked with income-tax reductions, national dividends, development expenditure and a more sustainable approach to fiscal consolidation.