Hadi: No difference between GST, SST
president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang said there is no difference between the Sales and Service Tax (SST) and the muchmaligned Goods and Services Tax (GST).
Using a Malay proverb to stress his point, he said: “A pinch is still a pinch, it’s just as painful whether it’s on the right hand or the left.”
The Marang member of parliament said people were facing high costs of living and the government should come up with better solutions to the issue.
“Their solution of scrapping the GST and introducing the SST is akin to first pinching the right hand, and then moving on the left hand. In the end, the pain inflicted is still the same.”
Hadi said the government needed a holistic solution in managing cost of living issues faced by the people instead of just changing the taxation system.
He said such a move might have eased financial constraints faced by the government, but the people had gained nothing from it.
“The real issue that needs to be looked into is how we can improve the spending power of the people and manage the cost of living.
“It is not just about the taxation system we need in the country,” he said.
Hadi touched on Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s statement that the Pakatan Harapan manifesto was not a holy book, which must be adhered to word for word.
He said promises made should be fulfilled even though the manifesto was not a holy book.