DAP: Only a day to debate GST?

G Vinod | April 7, 2014

Klang MP Charles Santiago criticises the government for only allowing one day to debate the controversial GST Bill.

PETALING JAYA: A DAP MP today hit out at the government for allowing parliamentarians only one day to debate the controversial Goods and Services Tax (GST) Bill.

“This a bill that is going to affect millions of Malaysians and we only have up to 4.30pm today to debate it,” said an irate Klang MP Charles Santiago.

Last year, Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak announced that the government would impose GST on goods and services rendered, effective April 2015 at the rate of six percent.

Najib had said that GST will replace the existing sales and services tax, which would eventually reduce the prices of goods.

However, Pakatan Rakyat lawmakers have argued that GST would only do more harm than good as the rakyat are already suffering from low wages and rising cost of living.

Santiago said that it was preposterous that MPs are only allowed so little time to debate on GST, with the Finance Minister planning to wrap up the debate by later this evening.

“We need at least three to four days for this. Give us time to assess the matter properly,” he said.

Santiago added that Rasah MP Anthony Loke and Pokok Sena MP Mahfuz Omar have raised the matter with Dewan Rakyat deputy speaker Ronald Kiandee to request for time extension.

Meanwhile, Loke told FMT that they have also raised the matter with Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Shahidan Kassim for a time extension to debate on GST.

“But so far we have heard nothing,” said Loke.