KAJANG, 31 Dec: The Parti KKeadilan Rakyat (PKR) Syrategy Director, Rafizi Ramli, is confident that Barisan Nasional (BN) will withdraw the implementation of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) if this tax that oppresses the people cannot be implemented in April 2015.
Rafizi said that this prediction is done based on calculations that the mood of the people and political parties in this country will be hit by the heat of the elections by 2016, thus forcing BN to think twice before implementing it after 2015.
“If the central government fails to implement the GST in April 2015, they cannot go ahead with it after 2015, because 2016 would be too near to 2017. In 2017 or early 2018, the election can be held so I’m confident that the central government would not dare to implement it.
“If we look at the GST, it was actually from 2005 and was delayed to 2007. However, 2008 was the election period so it was not implemented. In 2009, BN leaders tabled it in Parliament but did not implement it out of fear.
“If the public protests against it and adequate information if provided to the public, I am confident that the implementation of the GST will not take place. If we succeed in burrying BN and there is the new Pakatan Rakyat (PR) Government, the people are safe,” he said in the Reduce the Cost of Living Youth Discourse which was held at the KK Hotel recently.
Rafizi said that the people have been urged to gather at Dataran Merdeka tonight in unity for the ‘2014 New Year’s Eve Protest’.
Meanwhile, the Central PAS Youth Assembly Chief, Suhaizan Kayat, said that history shows that continuous pressure from the people can change the government’s decision.
“Previously, there was a series of demonstrations by the Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections (BERSIH) to demand for fair elections. Eventually the government had to bow to it although all demands were not implemented, but they did listen to us a little. They succumbed to the pressure from the people in the end,” he said.
Tonight, the 2014 New Year’s Eve Protest, involving people from all walks of life, will be held en masse at Dataran Merdeka to protest against the series of increase in price of services and necessary goods which is oppressing the lives of the people.
