Elderly sundry shop owner hanged himself over GST woe

KUALA LUMPUR — An elderly sundry shop owner in Johor Baru committed suicide having complained of difficulty in coping with the goods and services (GST) tax that was implemented on April 1.

According to China Press reports, Lim Tai Choon, 68, locked himself in the shop before hanging himself. Lim was said to have left behind a suicide note asking for his ashes to be scattered in the sea.

The Chinese daily further reported that Lim had, over the past two months, complained to his family that he found it difficult to adapt with the GST system and was worried that officials would raid his shop.

Lim's family members said that he had met with a friend for drinks on Saturday. Having lost contact with Lim later on, they found his body yesterday morning at the shop, which has since been closed.

The second such tragedy in a mere two months since GST's implementation, the Finance Ministry has admitted that the goods and service tax has forced some businesses, especially those  owned by the elderly, to close down.