‘Nothing new in Pakatan’s alternative Budget 2018’

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Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah

KUCHING: The promises made by Pakatan Harapan (PH) in its alternative Budget 2018 has been described as nothing new by Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah.

According to him, they are sugar-laced promises which they make before every election, which do not contain much substance.

Abdul Karim, who is Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) Supreme Council member, said the promises made in the alternative budget looked sweet and juicy but it remained to be seen if the coalition could commit to what was being promised.

“Many promises made in Selangor and Penang before the last general election have yet to be fulfilled despite Pakatan being the government in these two states.

“Their easiest excuse for not fulfilling them is that they are not the party that is ruling the country,” he said yesterday.

PH on Wednesday revealed their alternative Budget 2018 which put forward abolishing the Goods and Services Tax (GST) and giving special focus to Sabah and Sarawak’s development as among the key focus.

The coalition said it is committed to eliminating GST via zero rating, but will keep its reporting system.

“We aim to revert to pre-GST numbers on the matter of consumption tax. In effect, this means that we will see a revenue shortfall of RM25.50 billion.

“Pakatan Harapan sees this policy as an absolute necessity in times of economic stagnation and consumer hardship,” PH added.

With this shortage, the coalition hoped to collect an addition of RM2.81 billion in corporate income tax, RM1.46 billion in excise duties on goods (except motor vehicles) and RM1.82 billion in real property gain tax.

It also expected a 20 per cent increase in car sales following the abolishment of GST, which would contribute to RM1.93 billion in revenue through the collection of import tax, excise and motor vehicle licence.