Anti-GST protests nationwide

P Ramani | October 23, 2013

A non-governmental organisation held protests against the implementation of the Goods and Services Tax at several cities in the country, today.

KUALA LUMPUR: The Oppress People’s Network, better known as Jerit, today held protests at selected cities in the country to object the implementation of the Good and Services Tax (GST).

GST is expected to be introduced at the Budget 2014, to be tabled by Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak, who is also Finance Minister, in Parliament, Friday.

In Kuala Lumpur about 20 protesters gathered in front of the Brickfields post office for about 45 minutes to show their dissatisfaction over the implementation of the GST.

The downpour this evening failed to dampen their spirits as they braved the rain to continue the protest.

Other similar protests were staged in Kajang, Shah Alam, Seremban, Ipoh and Malacca.

Around 30 police personnel from various divisions, including special branch and internal security division, were present at the protest in Brickfields to monitor the situation.

JERIT coordinator M Sivaranjini said the implementation of the GST will further burden the public “as it is implemented by the UMNO regime to feed their cronies.”

The implementation of the tax will also result in the increase of prices of goods and services which in return burden the rakyat, she said.

Other NGOs which joined the protest were Malaysia Indian Progressive Association (MIPAS), Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) and some Bersih supporters.

GST is proposed by the government to replace the current consumption tax i.e. the sales tax and service tax (SST).

The introduction of GST is part of the Government’s tax reform programme to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of the existing taxation system.

Some tax experts predict that the GST will be introduced at 5%.