Adenan praised for his decision on GST

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Ting (fourth left) with SUPP members at the ceremony that marked the abolition of the Lanang Bridge toll on Sunday.

Mayor Lawrence Lai

MIRI: Miri City Council (MCC) yesterday applauded Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem for his decision to have local councils absorb the goods and services tax (GST) for their services.

Its mayor, Lawrence Lai, said the move would help reduce the burden weighing down on ratepayers’ shoulders.

“As far as MCC is concerned, any policy that can reduce ratepayers’ burden truly reflects the ‘People First, Performance Now’ policy,” he told The Borneo Post after chairing MCC’s full council meeting yesterday.

Lai disclosed the council actually deliberated on this matter during its financial meeting last month.

“We were already preparing for this (councils absorbing GST), but we could not announce it as the government had not made any announcement on it.

“Since our chief minister spilled the beans earlier than expected, we will submit our proposal to the Ministry of Local Government and Community Development for further action.”

Adenan announced that local councils would absorb the GST for its services during a ceremony to mark the abolition of the Lanang Bridge toll in Sibu on Sunday.

Meanwhile, SUPP Piasau branch chairman, Datuk Sebastian Ting, said Adenan had made the right decision.

“Since the implementation of GST last April 1, the people have been under a lot of pressure, financially.

“So, Adenan’s announcement came at the right time. It shows he knows the hardship of our people. He has the people at heart, which he showed by walking the talk,” said Ting when contacted yesterday.

Ting opined that, by right, all government and council services should not be charged tax.

He pointed out that the GST had created overwhelmingly negative effects on everyone — from merchandisers to consumers.

“I was told that most of them were forced to increase their prices to cope with the GST. This is certainly unfair to all quarters, and the domino effect is inflation.”

On the abolishing of the Lanang Bridge toll, Ting, who was at the ceremony, said waiving the toll would greatly benefit the people living around the area and the general public at large.