SHAH ALAM, 14 Oct: The increase in fuel prices and the goods and services tax (GST) which will increase inflation in 2015 is a pit for low and middle income Malaysians, says PAS Vice President Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man.
He likened the pit with a ‘prison’ created by Barisan Nasional (BN) for this group.
He said that the subsidy reduction and the increase of the BR1M grant causes an increase in the inflation rate which is higher than the income rate, therefore, low and middle income people will continue to be trapped in the prison created by BN.
“The giving of the BR1M in instalments is made into a weapon to make them continue to be dependent on the government.
“Is this a BN strategy to remain in power by making the majority of Malaysians dependent on the incentives given by the government,” he said in a statement quoted from Malaysia Kini.
Tuan Ibrahim said that it is not impossible based on what was said by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak at the MCA general assembly on October 12, where he reminded the Chinese community to not demand from the government if they support the opposition.
“Based on this logic, is the BR1M actually a political strategy in the form of assistance from the government to get the people’s vote for BN. In fact, the increase in fuel prices will also cause an increase in the prices of goods.
“Because the prices of goods are soaring, the people have to pay more for the GST because six percent will be charged on goods and services which have increased in price and not the current price.
“Eventually, everything given to the people is actually collected back by the government. The difference is that the people have been pushed into a pit and they have to depend on what the government gives,” he said.
In relation to that, he said that Najib needs to remember that all who pay tax, either directly through income tax or indirectly through car excise tax, have the right to make demands of the government.
He said that the people have the right to choose who they want to manage the country during each election because it is their right as taxpayers.
“And as an elected government, it is their responsibility to take care of the well-being of each and every one of its citizens without taking into account their political standing. That is the fundamentals to a fair and just democratic system that is working,” he said.
NS
