Subsidies not meant to be a long-term measure, market forces do have a role

THERE was consternation on the part of the government before the Goods and Services Tax (GST) was introduced. The government then waited for some time, allowing the groundwork for the implementation of GST to be scrutinised thoroughly before it was greenlit.

Once the conditions were ripe, there was a carpet-bombing public awareness campaign that proceeded. After all, it was going to be an uphill task to convince the rakyat why they need to pay more for goods and services than before.