Reject Opposition’s anti-GST talk, Chinese told

Minister Shabery Cheek says the “who uses, pays” concept is fair to all in the country.

ROMPIN: The Chinese community should not be taken in by the opposition’s accusations about the Goods and Services Tax (GST), said Communications and Multimedia Minister Ahmad Shabery Cheek.

He said the GST was a good and efficient taxation system to increase the country’s revenue and that its “who uses, pays” concept was fairer including to foreigners living in the country.

“Foreigners (living in Malaysia) have been enjoying facilities available to citizens like good healthcare facilities, roads and subsidised goods even though they do not pay tax.

“That is why GST is implemented in more than 160 countries. The revenue earned from GST we will return to the people through various programmes,” he said at a Komuniti 1Malaysia (K1M) dinner at Bandar Baru Rompin here Thursday night.

Also present were Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Wee Ka Siong, Communications and Multimedia Ministry secretary-general Sharifah Zarah Syed Ahmad, Information Department director-general Ibrahim Abdul Rahman, Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama) Editor-in-Chief Zakaria Abdul Wahab and MCA Youth head Senator Chong Sim Woon.

Ahmad Shabery said GST in Malaysia was also in the country’s own “mould” so as not to overly burden the people.

“We do not impose the GST on basic food items. Even public transport is GST- exempt. For people in the lower income group we also have the 1Malaysia People’s Aid (BR1M),” he said.

- BERNAMA