JOHOR BARU: Recent federal decisions, including a wider sales and service tax (SST), and the implementation of e-invoicing, have burdened the public and businesses, says Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong.
The MCA president said the wider SST had driven up the cost of goods, and repeated changes to the fuel subsidy scheme, the roll-out of e-invoicing and a sharp increase in the foreign worker levy had squeezed local SMEs.
In a message to voters ahead of polling, Dr Wee is urging Johoreans to treat Saturday’s state election as a referendum on the Pakatan Harapan-led Federal Government.
Dr Wee also said the vote should register the strongest dissatisfaction with policies he described as anti-people and anti-business.
“We must treat this state election as a referendum, and use your vote to express the strongest dissatisfaction with the Pakatan-led government,” he said in a Facebook post on Friday (July 10).
Dr Wee said a strong result would give the state more leverage against federal policies.
“Only by significantly increasing BN and MCA seats will the Johor government have the leverage and the backbone to say 'no' to Pakatan Harapan's harsh policies," he said.
He cited the Federal Government's recent move to restore Tunku Abdul Rahman University of Management and Technology's (TAR UMT) 10-year tax exemption as evidence the polls were already having an effect.
"This is not a handout from the Federal Government. It is a great victory won through the Johor election effect and the pressure of all Johoreans," he said.
The Cabinet agreed on Wednesday to honour the 10-year exemption, after Dr Wee revealed that an earlier approval letter had granted only three years.
On Wednesday (July 8) evening, government spokesman Datuk Fahmi Fadzil said the decision by the Cabinet came after it considered the issue and acknowledged the university’s special role in providing quality and affordable private higher education.
Dr Wee also urged voters to reject hate politics, racial politics and the politicising of education.
He said MCA had fielded a team of business figures and professionals, and urged families to vote for Barisan Nasional candidates.
Polling for the Johor election is on Saturday (July 11).
