Government spokesperson Fahmi Fadzil said today the cabinet may in future discuss a call for the government to enact a law that allocates equal constituency development funds to all elected parliamentarians.
Speaking during a post-cabinet press conference in Putrajaya, the communications minister said the meeting today did not discuss the call most recently made by DAP chairperson Gobind Singh Deo, who is also digital minister.
“That was not discussed today, but certainly the prime minister is aware, and it may be discussed in future,” Fahmi (above) said when asked for comments on the matter.
Yesterday, Gobind reiterated DAP’s stand for Anwar to fulfil one of Pakatan Harapan’s election pledges and grant equal constituency development funds to all MPs.
Gobind added that DAP also wants equal funding legislated into law to remove future political discretion and protect voters’ rights nationwide.
Fahmi said the cabinet today also did not discuss a statement by Taiwan’s Foreign Affairs Ministry condemning Anwar’s support for the One China policy, and China’s right to use force to reunify the country, which triggered backlash from Taiwan.
“Not discussed,” he said briefly when asked for comments on Taiwan’s response to Anwar’s remarks made in an interview with Al Jazeera.
Earlier, Fahmi said Anwar had reiterated the government’s decision to abolish the Universities and University Colleges Act 1971, and that any new law to coordinate the administration of higher education institutions should not include restrictive elements under the current law.
‘Hybrid taxation’
On another matter, Fahmi said Second Finance Minister Amir Hamzah Azizan has been tasked with researching a proposal to implement a “hybrid taxation” that incorporates elements of the goods and services tax (GST) into the existing sales and service tax (SST) system.
“He (Amir) has been given time to prepare a report to be tabled to cabinet. This is still in the initial stage.
“Time is given as this is not a matter that can be done in a rush,” said Fahmi, who, when asked if it would be completed in time for the Budget 2027, clarified that no timeline has been set.
Anwar, who is also finance minister, yesterday said the government was not planning to reintroduce GST or impose any broad-based tax that could burden the people.
He reportedly said his moral conscience did not allow him to support a taxation system in which everyone, including the poorest, would have to pay, even if the amount was small. - Mkini
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