KOTA KINABALU: Likas assemblyman Junz Wong has called on all Malaysians to unite and reject the goods and services tax (GST) to be implemented in Malaysia.
He refuted the claim by Minister in Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Idris Jala that by implementing GST at 7% would increase the nation’s revenue by up to RM27 billion.
Junz said Idris’ explanation that it followed Singapore’s lead, was not relevant nor was it practical.
Why should Malaysia follow the Singapore’s lead by setting GST at 7%? he asked.
“Don’t compare Malaysia with Singapore because we are nothing like Singapore.
“We are not on par with Singapore in terms of industrial and economic development.
“We are not even close to Singapore’s medical and welfare standards. We are far behind Singapore in education and hospital standards.
“We cannot survive without cars and petrol due to bad public transportation system in Malaysia while Singaporeans can.
“Why should we follow Singapore’s lead on GST but not the others?”
Junz, who is also National DAPSY Publicity secretary, disputed Idris’ claim that the 2020 high-income nation goal could even be achieved two years earlier due to extensive government and private sector economic efforts.
He challenged Idris to show evidence that the countrys budget deficit had shown significant decrease in the last four years under Najib’s administration.
Idris also said that Najib was committed to reducing corporate and personal income tax due to implementation of GST.
Junz said Najib should show his sincerity to the people that he was indeed committed to what he claimed to be.
“Implement the reduction of taxes first,” he said.