Cheaper groceries post-SST? Let's go shopping, Bung dares backbencher

PARLIAMENT | Kinabatangan MP Bung Moktar Radin has challenged Sungai Petani MP Johari Abdul to go to the market together to determine whether prices of groceries have actually decreased after the implementation of the sales and service tax (SST).

"I suggest you come with me to the market to look at the prices of goods," he told the Dewan Rakyat today during Johari's speech on Budget 2019.

"Yes, Insya Allah, let us go tomorrow," came the reply from Johari.

Johari had earlier insisted that the prices of goods have decreased since the tax was implemented, and that only those who do not do their own grocery shopping would be unaware of this.

"I am confident that my friends who were former ministers and former deputy ministers have not gone to the market until now.

"They merely listen to what people report and parrot them. If you actually went down to the market, you would see that prices have gone down... unless you go to London, to hotels, or you live luxuriously.

"But if you go down and live like how we used to live as the opposition, you will know yes, prices have gone down," he said.

'Living in denial'

Bung threw down the grocery shopping challenge to Johari after the latter argued that those who say prices have not gone down are those who "live in denial that they are now the opposition."

"I am from the village, I go to the market every day, markets in the village. Even when I go overseas, I go to markets in the village, not supermarkets.

"The one who goes to supermarkets is Damansara (Tony Pua)," he said.

Earlier, Bung had pinpointed Pua as the one who said that prices would go down after the implementation of the SST.

"But until now, prices have not gone down," he stressed.

Pua immediately refuted Bung, clarifying that he only said prices would be lower than they were under the goods and services tax (GST). - Mkini