KUALA LUMPUR, 25 Oct: The Budget 2014 presented by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak failed to correct the leakage of tens of billions of public money from happening, stressed Opposition Leader, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
Anwar said the announcement of the Federal Government to implement the Goods and Services Tax (GST) on 1 April 2015 at a rate of 6 percent will only add to the people’s burden.
“There is no question of judgement to correct the issue of leakages, leakages of tens of billion, no question to rectify wastages and improve Government management.
“What they have done for the weak fiscal position is taxation. The GST will only burden the lower class and will add to the gap between the rich and the poor.
“Secondly, the increase in sugar prices, with weak and trivial arguments,” he said when met outside the House of Representatives today.
DAP Secretary-General, Lim Guan Eng said the implementation of the GST will only burden those who have never paid taxes (and) are now forced to pay taxes.
“In Malaysia, only six percent of the people pay taxes. In Malaysia, only 15 percent of workers pay taxes. Now everyone has to pay taxes,” he said when met.
He said the Federal Government is being unfair to low-income earners because those who never had to pay taxes all this while are forced to do so.
“They (the Government) will not only impose the GST in 2015, but has removed 30 percent of sugar subsidies. I do now know what this amount will save but it only increases the burden of the people,” said the Member of Parliament for Bagan.
