See (seated, second left) and Tan (seated, left) showing the anti-GST brochure while Baru (seated, centre), Voon and other party members showing the ‘Rakyat Bangkit Bantah GST’ flags.
KUCHING: Leaders of PKR Sarawak will hold various awareness programmes on Goods and Services Tax (GST) to highlight the hardship suffered by the people as a result of the new tax implemented by the government since April, last year.
According to state PKR vice chairman See Chee How, the programmes would be held in several cities and towns in Sarawak and would take place in the form of convoy, walkabout and distribution of leaflets on April 2.
“The main objective of these programmes is to highlight the GST-inflicted predicament and to emphasise the dire need to undertake measures for the sake of our people,” he said in a press conference yesterday.
See, who is Batu Lintang assemblyman, said since the implementation of GST, prices of merchandise and various services had increased resulting in people across the board to feel the pressure.
“Basically, people have to dig out more from their pockets for the same goods and services.”
In the meantime, he said the poor administration of the new tax regime was also adding unnecessary bureaucracy to businesses, adding that many businesses had wound up since then and some were complaining about late refund of their tax rebates.
“PKR and our allies have proposed in our shadow Budget 2016 for GST to be zero-rated, which practically abolish the tax and remove such burden off the people’s shoulders.
“We are not calling to scrap the new tax regime because at least RM200 million have been spent on the GST system. However, putting GST rate at zero would be a relief for both consumers and businesses.”
See pointed out that one of the reasons that the government implemented GST was due to its dwindling revenue, which was unfair because people at large were being penalised for the fiscal weakness and mismanagement of the government.
“April 2016 will mark the first anniversary of GST implementation; our GST predicament has to be highlighted and addressed. It is therefore important for the constituents to send a clear signal that mandate of a government entrusted by its constituents is to uplift their welfare, and it is not right for the people to be penalised for the government’s failure.”
Among those present at the press conference were state PKR chairman Baru Bian, PKR national women vice president Voon Shiak Ni and state PKR vice secretary Lynette Tan.