PARIT BUNTAR: Small businesses and traders affected by the tax on sweetened drinks which came into effect this month, can file a postponement appeal to the relevant authorities, according to Deputy Entrepreneur Development Minister Mohd Hatta Md Ramli.He said every appeal must provide reasonable grounds for proper consideration. “I hope the domestic trade and consumer affairs ministry will resolve the issue when it receives the appeals from the traders,” he said here after opening an entrepreneurship seminar organised by the Ketian District Malay Hawkers and Petty Traders Association.Small traders have complained about the sugar tax of 40 sen per litre (on sweetened beverages containing more than five grammes of sugar) which came into effect on July 1.

Hatta added that the implementation of the tax was aimed at controlling excess sugar intake among the public for health reasons.On another matter, Hatta proposed that the National Entrepreneur Group Economic Fund (Tekun Nasional) take up the loan method based on the Amanah Ikhtiar Malaysia model.He said the method involved group loans with five participants in each group. Through this method, the loan application approval process can be reduced, enabling entrepreneurs to get loans easily.