The perception of high-value goods tax implementation among postgraduate students in Universiti Utara Malaysia

The government of Malaysia underwent a significant change in 2022 when the newly formed unity government led by YAB Dato' Seri Anwar Bin Ibrahim took control. This government set out an ambitious goal of improving Malaysia in multiple areas through comprehensive reforms aimed at stimulating economic growth, enhancing public welfare, and ensuring sustainable development. Among these initiatives is the proposed HVGT that is planned for implementation on May 1, 2024, targeting luxury items with a tax range of 5% to 10%. However, the implementation of HVGT in Malaysia has been delayed due to the Finance Ministry's postponement in presenting the bill to parliament. This tax, announced on November 2, 2023, aims to increase government revenue by exclusively applying to goods purchased by Malaysians. The study seeks to investigate the perceptions of postgraduate students at UUM regarding HVGT and utilizing the TPB to assess attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioural control. Postgraduate students, due to their higher education and financial stability are presumed to have a more informed perception of HVGT. This research employs a self-administered questionnaire to collect data from 148 postgraduate students at UUM. The data were analyed using the Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS). The findings indicate an overall high perception towards HVGT in terms of attitudes and subjective norms among postgraduate students. However, there is a lower perception of perceived behavioral control suggesting less confidence in managing the tax's implications. This study adds to the existing literature on HVGT perceptions and offers valuable insights for policymakers to consider when refining HVGT policy in Malaysia