‘Previous govt lacked courage to implement GST’
JELI: Tun Daim Zainuddin already had the Goods and Services Tax (GST) in mind when he was finance minister, but the government at the time did not have the courage to implement it.
Umno Supreme Council member Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed said this, adding that his former boss was also involved in a study on GST.
“The government then decided to implement GST, but lacked the courage to see it through. Only Datuk Seri Najib Razak had the courage to do so.
“GST has many benefits as it ensures a more transparent and just taxation system. It can also detect big companies that don’t pay taxes,” he said after a visit to the Air Lanas Pasar Tani here yesterday.
Mustapa, who will defend the Jeli parliamentary seat and the Air Lanas state seat in the 14th General Election, said the GST taxation system was systematic.
He said the six per cent rate imposed by the government was among the lowest in the world.
“The implementation of GST benefits the country in the long run. Undeniably, there is some pressure in the first three years.
“As time progresses, I am confident that the rakyat will accept GST, as the government has to find a source of income to provide facilities for the rakyat.”
The Kelantan Barisan Nasional chairman said the government was assisting eligible households with 1Malaysia People’s Aid (BR1M), which would ease their financial burden.