Thursday, March 29, 2012

PR reiterates opposition to GST


THURSDAY, MARCH 29, 2012 - 12:19
by Ram Anand
pg6Mar29


KUALA LUMPUR: Pakatan Rakyat will remain firm against implementation of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) by the government.

Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim (pic) said it is not reasonable for the government, under the current situation where income levels among Malaysians were low, to carry out the move as it would affect those in the lower-income groups.

"BN said only 1.7 million Malaysians pay taxes. This was because the remaining number of the population belong to a low-income category," he said.

"Thus, the implementation of GST would affect the majority of these people."

Anwar said GST, which was expected to evenly spread the burden of taxes among Malaysians, should not be implemented until the income levels of the majority of Malaysians were raised.

"First, these people's income should be increased. Only then GST could be enforced," he said.

Yesterday, Minister in the Prme Minister's Department Datuk Seri Idris Jala reportedly called on the opposition to discuss with the ruling government the best ways to implement GST.

Idris said despite the looming general election, GST would be enforced towards the end of the year.

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