Umno gags Ahmad Maslan from commenting on GST, says report

Deputy Finance Minister Datuk Ahmad Maslan has been given the gag order by Umno after party leaders found him too vocal on issues about the goods and services tax. – The Malaysian Insider pic, April 29, 2015.

Umno has warned Deputy Finance Minister Datuk Ahmad Maslan to stop making statements on the goods and services tax (GST), especially in Rompin and Permatang Pauh during the campaigning period for fear of a backlash, Astro Awani reported.

Quoting party sources, the news channel said the deputy minister was told not to highlight GST issues especially after he was criticised on social media for his earlier statements on the tax.

“Several Umno leaders have warned Ahmad for coming out a tad too vocal on issues pertaining to GST. This may lead to us clinching a reduced majority in Rompin which will result in the failure to win the Permatang Pauh by-election.

“His intentions are good but his statements are often being manipulated by the opposition until many issues had cropped up which would affect the party,” the source reportedly told Awani.

Another source said Ahmad had been given the gag order on the GST.

Ahmad has been widely criticised and lampooned on social media over his defence of the GST, especially after he advised students at Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) that they should cook their own meals to save costs.

He was then reported as saying that Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad did not understand the GST, and that is why the former prime minister suggested the government abolish the tax.

“I think the people around him did not give him the proper explanation about GST. The GST percentage is much lower than SST (sales and services tax). So how can he say it’s better for the government to cancel GST?” Ahmad was quoted as saying.

He also urged those close to Dr Mahathir to explain the GST clearly to him, “without being influenced by the negative comments by the opposition”.

- TMI