KUCHING: The Sarawak State Legislative Assembly (DUN) should make its stand on the Goods and Services Tax (GST).
Wanita PKR national deputy chief Haniza Talha, who issued the challenge yesterday, said, “If Sarawak DUN really believe and is convinced the implementation of GST is good for the people, then declare it in the august House.”
Haniza, who is also Taman Medan assemblywoman, told a press conference that the Selangor DUN had denounced GST because it believed the tax was not good for the people.
She claimed the public, especially those doing business, was very much affected by the GST and this could be gauged from the increasing number of complaints against the government.
“A lot of businesses are really in pain because their business turnover is not up to RM500,000, so they cannot implement GST. However, all prices have increased, so surely they are going to pass the burden to consumers.”
Haniza opined the public were not educated on how to deal with the rising cost of living following the implementation of the GST last April 1.
“This shows the government is not ready for all this. They cannot handle it all over the country, so we advised the government to postpone the implementation of GST because it is not the right time to do it, the economy is very bad, and it is going to push inflation.”
Haniza said before implementing the GST, the government should have helped increase the income of the people.
Meanwhile, state Wanita PKR chief Jenny Lawai, who is from Baram, chided an assemblyman for saying that Baram folk was not affected by the GST.
“It is the role of elected representatives to help the people, not the other way round. Things in Baram are always more expensive compared to other areas.”
Citing price of benzene as an example, she said Baram folk had to pay about RM10 per litre, while petrol kiosks in towns were selling it for only RM2.95 per litre.