DECEMBER 21, 2013
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| Second Finance Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Husni Hanadzlah said that the opposition's allegations about GST as a burden were unfounded. — Wikimedia pic |
KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 21 — There is no basis to the allegations made by the opposition that the implementation of the goods and services tax (GST) will burden the rakyat, said Second Finance Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Husni Hanadzlah.
He said the allegations were just the opposition’s role in rejecting the government’s plan and would not be relevent when the tax is implemented in April 2015.
“I see the opposition’s role as just to oppose the development and plans by the government which in the end provide the overall benefits to the rakyat.
“They (opposition) oppose the construction of the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA), North-South Expressway, Putrajaya, KLCC and others. But now, do they still oppose these projects?
“So, what is important to me, if they (opposition) want to complain, they can do so,” he told reporters after launching a seminar on Wakaf organised by the Malay Chamber of Commerce Malaysia here today.
He said this when asked to comment on a book launch by Pakatan Rakyat titled “Understand GST, Reject GST”, which could cause a confusion among the rakyat on the implementation of the tax system.
Meanwhile, in his official address, Ahmad Husni expressed concerns on the Bumiputera equity ownership, which is still low at only 23.5 per cent in 2012.
In this regard, he urged participants to take the opportunity from the seminar to discuss several measures in relation to the Bumiputera community in the nation’s economic transformation process.
“If we want the Bumiputera equity ownership to reach 30 per cent, the increase in the Bumiputera wealth must expand faster than the growth of the country’s gross national income.
“Consequently, if our race is too dependent on low-value economic activities, in which wealth creation is small, then the improvement in Malay wealth may not be achieved,” he said.
At the seminar, Ahmad Husni also witnessed the signing of a memorandum for International Centre for Waqf Research, aimed at developing the country’s wakaf industry.
“In our country, wakaf has not been fully exploited and I agree on the establishment of the research centre. We need to have a database on the locations of the wakaf land in Malaysia now for their development.
“We must also think of how to have collaborations between states and the federal government as the wakaf land are placed under the purview of state governments,” he said.— Bernama
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