Pakatan backs PAS’ stand to oppose GST

Published: Friday November 22, 2013 MYT 2:25:00 PM 

Updated: Friday November 22, 2013 MYT 3:11:51 PM

BY YUEN MEIKENG AND RAHMAH GHAZALI

Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang delivering his speech at PAS’
59th Muktamar in Stadium Malawati on Friday.

SHAH ALAM: Pakatan Rakyat leaders fully supported Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang's criticism of the Goods and Services Tax (GST), which the PAS president likened to a mere "painkiller" for the Government while it continues to misuse public funds. 

DAP deputy chairman Tan Kok Wai said Abdul Hadi covered a few topics of interest in his policy speech at the PAS muktamar held at the Malawati Stadium, here. 

"We agree with his stand to oppose the GST, Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA) and to promote education for all. 

"We have no problems with the policies mentioned by him," he said when met on the sidelines of the PAS muktamar on Friday. 

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak had announced in his Budget 2014 speech that the GST would be introduced on April 1, 2015, at a rate of 6%. 

The GST would replace the sales and services taxes, which would be abolished. 

Tan said the DAP was also agreeable to Abdul Hadi upholding the position of Islam as the country's official religion, as enshrined in the Federal Constitution. 

"DAP hopes that PAS will play a more progressive and dynamic role in promoting political cooperation in Pakatan so that it will be a more powerful force to take on Barisan Nasional in the next general election," he said. 

In his speech, Abdul Hadi said PAS was consistent in opposing the implementation of the GST because it would weaken the economy via a taxation system that lowers the spending power of the people. 

The PAS leader also said the GST was just a "painkiller" for the Government by making the people pay while leakages and misuse of public funds continued to be rampant. 

PKR president Datin Seri Wan Azizah Wan Ismail said the Opposition pact was united in opposing the GST as discussed in its meetings. 

On Abdul Hadi urging the Government not to sign agreements which goes against Islam and promoted "immoral activities", she said Pakatan had to discuss the matter in coming up with a common ground. Abdul Hadi had urged the Government against signing the human rights agreement deemed to be clashing with Islamic principles.