Liow: Decision on posts timely

Published: Tuesday October 29, 2013 MYT 12:00:00 AM 

Updated: Tuesday October 29, 2013 MYT 7:41:26 AM

KUALA LUMPUR: The recent decision by MCA to take up government and official posts at the state level is timely in light of the Budget 2014 announcement and implementation of the Goods and Services Tax (GST), said MCA deputy president Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai.

He said MCA grassroots leaders would be able to go to the ground to explain the government policies and GST to the community.

“There needs to be a lot of explanation on the new tax system as there are still a lot of ambiguity and questions on the GST,” he said at Parliament lobby yesterday.

He said feedback gathered would be presented to the Government prior to the implementation of the GST in April 2015.

Liow chided certain quarters, particularly the Opposition, who were playing on racial sentiments while criticising the Budget as favouring a particular community and sidelining others.

“It is not fair to make such accusations that the Chinese were left out in the Budget.

“We need to explain why assistance is given to one community and not the other in context of the nation’s multiracial society,” he said.

On Malay rights group Perkasa’s call for Gerakan to disband and join MCA, Liow said this was not necessary.

What was crucial, he added, was strengthening the existing good relationships between the Barisan Nasional component parties.

“Why talk about disbanding and joining others when we are still weak?” he said.

In Sungai Limau, MCA vice-president Gan Ping Sieu said the party was in favour of the GST as it was a more equitable taxation system.

He added that the Opposition would make misleading statements about the GST, for example by saying the taxation system would only make the rich become richer.

Some might even say the GST would create a lot of hardship to the lower-income group, he added.

“These are all lies,” Gan said.

“The rakyat has to understand that the GST is exempted in six major sectors, including basic necessities.

“A lot of economists will tell you that we will not be able to sustain (growth) if we do not adopt a broader-based tax model like the GST,” added Gan.