KUALA LUMPUR, Aug. 20 -- The Finance Ministry (MOF) said the Sales and Service Tax (SST) covers a larger number of exempted or zero-rated items compared to the former Goods and Services Tax (GST).

In a Parliamentary written reply, it explained that 1,826 items are exempted under the SST, more than triple the 607 items that were tax-free under GST before it was abolished in 2018.

"The items exempted under both SST and GST include a wide range of essential goods commonly used by the public," the ministry wrote.

"These cover unprocessed food such as chicken, beef, mutton, fish, vegetables, local fruits and rice, as well as processed food including flour, sugar, salt, white bread, milk and palm cooking oil. Medicines and medical devices ar...