KUCHING, Jan. 31 -- Calls for the Ministry of Finance (MOF) to urgently review the application of the CP500 tax instalment scheme are growing amid concerns that its current structure places disproportionate cash-flow pressure on salaried individuals with side income as well as small and medium enterprises (SMEs), particularly those in Sarawak.

The issue has gained urgency as rising living costs, higher interest rates and tighter financing conditions push more salaried Malaysians to supplement their income through rental properties or small businesses, while SMEs continue to grapple with uneven demand, rising compliance costs and stretched working capital.

Sarawak Housing and Real Estate Developers' Association (Sheda) advisor Dato Sim K...