Kuala Lumpur: If Pakatan Harapan revives the Goods and Services Tax (GST), former minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan (pic) has offered to be a consultant to the government for free.
“I’m suggesting that if the GST is brought back, I can be their consultant free-of-charge. I can go around organising ceramah and I can explain to the people about the benefits of GST.
“This is my offer to the government. Thank you for GST,” he told reporters at the Parliament lobby.
Ahmad, who was international trade and industry deputy minister during the Barisan Nasional administration, said the proposal by the Malaysian Institute of Economic Research (MIER) to re-introduce GST in Budget 2020 should be considered by the Pakatan Harapan government.
“I’m confident that the 170 countries which had implemented the GST are not wrong,” he added.
The Pontian MP said the government had made a mistake by implementing the Sales and Service Tax (SST), saying that it was an “ancient system that was not transparent and promoted the ‘black economy’.”
He was referring to former Customs Department director-general Datuk Seri Subromaniam Tholasy, who was quoted as saying last year that there was a “black economy” under SST.
“He (Subromaniam) said the black economy in Malaysia was worth RM30bil. So, the GST can reduce the black economy as much as two-thirds, which is RM20bil.
“Besides that, the SST only manages to collect about RM23bil compared to RM44bil annually under the GST.”
MCA slammed the Pakatan Harapan government for their remarks made against the GST before GE14.
“If the GST is reintroduced, does this mean that Pakatan leaders admit that their previous statements during GE14 was a lie?
“If so, are Pakatan leaders prepared to make a public apology?” said party president Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong on Facebook.
“I’m suggesting that if the GST is brought back, I can be their consultant free-of-charge. I can go around organising ceramah and I can explain to the people about the benefits of GST.
“This is my offer to the government. Thank you for GST,” he told reporters at the Parliament lobby.
Ahmad, who was international trade and industry deputy minister during the Barisan Nasional administration, said the proposal by the Malaysian Institute of Economic Research (MIER) to re-introduce GST in Budget 2020 should be considered by the Pakatan Harapan government.
“I’m confident that the 170 countries which had implemented the GST are not wrong,” he added.
The Pontian MP said the government had made a mistake by implementing the Sales and Service Tax (SST), saying that it was an “ancient system that was not transparent and promoted the ‘black economy’.”
He was referring to former Customs Department director-general Datuk Seri Subromaniam Tholasy, who was quoted as saying last year that there was a “black economy” under SST.
“He (Subromaniam) said the black economy in Malaysia was worth RM30bil. So, the GST can reduce the black economy as much as two-thirds, which is RM20bil.
“Besides that, the SST only manages to collect about RM23bil compared to RM44bil annually under the GST.”
MCA slammed the Pakatan Harapan government for their remarks made against the GST before GE14.
“If the GST is reintroduced, does this mean that Pakatan leaders admit that their previous statements during GE14 was a lie?
“If so, are Pakatan leaders prepared to make a public apology?” said party president Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong on Facebook.
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