GST is not the solution to country’s economic woes

Harakahdaily, 30 August 2013 Sure, that’s a nice way to raise country’s revenue by cashing out from the people but will it solve the actual problems plaguing the country’s economy today that arise from weak and inefficient financial management? According to PAS Information chief Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man, the answer is no.  “GST implementation is not the solution to problems bringing our economy to trouble where country’s debts almost breaching the 55 percent of our gross domestic products and fiscal deficit at RM14.9 billion,” he stressed today in a statement.  Without tackling leakages, wastages, weak management and the culture of direct negotiation within government’s administration would render the revenue generated by GST useless, said Tuan Ibrahim.  “Without an efficient and effective financial management, whatever ways to generate government’s revenues will only put the people at a loss because the extra cash will be wasted in a system full of leakages without bringing benefit to the economy,” added the Pahang PAS commissioner.  With a recession on the horizon, citing heavy devaluation of Ringgit and gloomy regional economic outlook, Tuan Ibrahim said the implementation GST would add an extra burden on the people.  “Don’t because of BN administration’s weaknesses, the people are victimised twice, once by subsidies rationalisation, and then forced to pay more through GST in Budget 2013,” he warned.