Pakatan MPs in favour of anti-GST protest

P Ramani | October 7, 2013

Pakatan parliamentarians throw support behind Anwar Ibrahim's proposed plan to stage a nationwide protest if the GST is introduced during Budget 2014

KUALA LUMPUR: Pakatan Rakyat MPs today agreed to proposal by Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim that a nationwide protest should be staged if the Goods and Sales Tax (GST) is introduced in Budget 2014.

“The rakyat will be further squeezed with the implementation of the GST. The price of petrol, flour and sugar are also expected to go up when the Budget is tabled in two weeks,” said Klang MP Charles Santiago

“Instead of increasing prices and implementing the GST, the government should focus more on fighting corruption and stopping the leakages.

“I’m certain that with GST being implemented, the lower and middle income earners will be hit the hardest as the GST will indirectly increase food, medicine, transportation and property prices,” said Charles.

“Since wages are not increasing, more taxes will burden the public and leave them in dire situations,” he added.

Kapar MP G Manivannan is also in favour of a nationwide protest, stating talks will be held to educate the public on the expected significance and implications on the rakyat once the GST is introduced by the government.

He slammed the Barisan Nasional, particularly Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak for acting differently before and after the general election.

On Sunday, Anwar announced that Pakatan will organise nationwide protests if the GST is imposed in the upcoming budget, stating that the imposition will further burden the people.

GST is a value added tax replacing the Sales and Service tax, that will help the government to rake in additional revenues to offset its deficit budget.

Parti Sosialis Malaysia’s (PSM) national chairman Dr Nasir Hashim and Pokok Sena MP Mahfuz Omar (PAS) have also come out in support of the idea and said that they too will join Pakatans’ planned nationwide GST protests.

They added that the government should be humane towards the people who are facing hard times due to the rising cost of living.