YOURSAY ‘You do not tell the people that you are not listening to them.’
Deputy minister: Protests or not, GST is on
Casey: Deputy Finance Minister Ahmad Maslan missed the point. Yes, GST (Goods and Services Tax) is only one of the means deployed by governments in many parts of world to raise revenue.
And yes, many countries adopt GST. But that is not the point. The point is: at 15.5% of 2012 GDP, the direct and indirect taxes levied by the government are already burdensome on the people.
At this tax rate, it was already higher than that levied by the governments of Indonesia (12%), Taiwan (12%), Hong Kong (13%) and Singapore (14.2%) over the same period.
Another point is: much of these taxes raised by the sitting government were misallocated and used to fund largesse and leakages.
Saying that "(GST) will not be imposed on basic food items such as rice, sugar, salt, flour and cooking oil" is either a hypocrisy or an insult to the intelligence of the people.
What about value-added products that has in them rice, sugar, salt, flour and cooking oil as part of the ingredients? Is the government proposing to reverse out these constituents from the retail selling price of these finished products in the computation of GST?
And are you sure the taxed money will go back to us? I am sure you will continue practicing "what is yours is mine and what is mine is mine".
Gerard Lourdesamy: Impose the GST and Umno-BN should be prepared to face a revolt from the people.
In 1776, the infamous tea tax imposed by the British (which was similar to the GST) caused the war of American independence and the loss of the American colonies to the British Crown.
The people would be justified in wanting to liberate themselves from the dictatorial, corrupt and abusive Umno-BN government.
After all, an "elected " dictatorship is still a dictatorship even if wrapped up in the trimmings of a democracy.
Fairnsquare: The deputy finance minister's arrogant response is the main cause of the BN losing support. You do not tell the people that you are not listening to them.
Stressing the importance of the GST and the minimal effect since it is replacing the service tax, which has already been implemented, would be the correct approach.
We have seen some arrogant and irresponsible reactions from BN politicians, which will inevitably impact the BN. Do these guys think before they respond?
Negarawan: GST is needed by Umno to cover the massive corruption, wastage and leakages in government spending as highlighted by the auditor-general every year.
Next week onwards, Malaysia will also has to bear the cost of the MH370 search mission which is going to drain more than a billion ringgit over the next one or two years.
National news agency sees red over GST protest
Cmfoo: Well, anyone can pick and choose what to report on from the anti-GST rally.
What is disappointing however is Bernama, being a professional media organisation, has forgotten the very basic tenet of honest journalism - that is to report views from a good random sample of the public at the rally.
Onyourtoes: Are these the best baloney Bernama could generate from anti-GST rally - causing traffic jams, disrupting people who wanted to go shopping, and some protesters have bought along children?
Look, if there were only “hundreds” of them, I am sure they would not have caused problems as mentioned.
Please Bernama, even lying needs intelligence and common sense. From my amateurish estimate, those gathered at the National Mosque alone were easily between 10,000 to 15,000.
Umno-BN must learn to understand: Malaysians did not choose to go to the rally on their own accord, using their own money and walking under the hot sun and threatening thunderstorm for nothing.
One more thing which I want to share with Perkasa and Isma - I am glad that this rally was led by Malay leaders with Malay participants constituting at least 95%. I think Pakatan Rakyat finally got it right.
Fairnsquare: The two individuals who commented gave lame reasons which were avoidable as everyone knew about the demonstration. No one supports the GST, while some accept it.
The government must understand that the demonstration is because the rakyat feel not enough has been done to stamp out corruption and overspending, the two main reasons for the increasing government funding.
It would be foolish for anyone in the government to expect the people to support corruption and overspending. Does everyone know what is really going on the ground, I wonder.
CiViC: But Bernama didn't complain when roads were closed for hours for US President Barack Obama's visit last week. -Mkini
Deputy minister: Protests or not, GST is on
Casey: Deputy Finance Minister Ahmad Maslan missed the point. Yes, GST (Goods and Services Tax) is only one of the means deployed by governments in many parts of world to raise revenue.And yes, many countries adopt GST. But that is not the point. The point is: at 15.5% of 2012 GDP, the direct and indirect taxes levied by the government are already burdensome on the people.
At this tax rate, it was already higher than that levied by the governments of Indonesia (12%), Taiwan (12%), Hong Kong (13%) and Singapore (14.2%) over the same period.
Another point is: much of these taxes raised by the sitting government were misallocated and used to fund largesse and leakages.
Saying that "(GST) will not be imposed on basic food items such as rice, sugar, salt, flour and cooking oil" is either a hypocrisy or an insult to the intelligence of the people.
What about value-added products that has in them rice, sugar, salt, flour and cooking oil as part of the ingredients? Is the government proposing to reverse out these constituents from the retail selling price of these finished products in the computation of GST?
And are you sure the taxed money will go back to us? I am sure you will continue practicing "what is yours is mine and what is mine is mine".
Gerard Lourdesamy: Impose the GST and Umno-BN should be prepared to face a revolt from the people.
In 1776, the infamous tea tax imposed by the British (which was similar to the GST) caused the war of American independence and the loss of the American colonies to the British Crown.
The people would be justified in wanting to liberate themselves from the dictatorial, corrupt and abusive Umno-BN government.
After all, an "elected " dictatorship is still a dictatorship even if wrapped up in the trimmings of a democracy.
Fairnsquare: The deputy finance minister's arrogant response is the main cause of the BN losing support. You do not tell the people that you are not listening to them.
Stressing the importance of the GST and the minimal effect since it is replacing the service tax, which has already been implemented, would be the correct approach.
We have seen some arrogant and irresponsible reactions from BN politicians, which will inevitably impact the BN. Do these guys think before they respond?
Negarawan: GST is needed by Umno to cover the massive corruption, wastage and leakages in government spending as highlighted by the auditor-general every year.
Next week onwards, Malaysia will also has to bear the cost of the MH370 search mission which is going to drain more than a billion ringgit over the next one or two years.
National news agency sees red over GST protest
Cmfoo: Well, anyone can pick and choose what to report on from the anti-GST rally.
What is disappointing however is Bernama, being a professional media organisation, has forgotten the very basic tenet of honest journalism - that is to report views from a good random sample of the public at the rally.
Onyourtoes: Are these the best baloney Bernama could generate from anti-GST rally - causing traffic jams, disrupting people who wanted to go shopping, and some protesters have bought along children?
Look, if there were only “hundreds” of them, I am sure they would not have caused problems as mentioned.
Please Bernama, even lying needs intelligence and common sense. From my amateurish estimate, those gathered at the National Mosque alone were easily between 10,000 to 15,000.
Umno-BN must learn to understand: Malaysians did not choose to go to the rally on their own accord, using their own money and walking under the hot sun and threatening thunderstorm for nothing.
One more thing which I want to share with Perkasa and Isma - I am glad that this rally was led by Malay leaders with Malay participants constituting at least 95%. I think Pakatan Rakyat finally got it right.
Fairnsquare: The two individuals who commented gave lame reasons which were avoidable as everyone knew about the demonstration. No one supports the GST, while some accept it.
The government must understand that the demonstration is because the rakyat feel not enough has been done to stamp out corruption and overspending, the two main reasons for the increasing government funding.
It would be foolish for anyone in the government to expect the people to support corruption and overspending. Does everyone know what is really going on the ground, I wonder.
CiViC: But Bernama didn't complain when roads were closed for hours for US President Barack Obama's visit last week. -Mkini
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