Ministry’s statement on GST abolition June 1 fake — Lim Guan Eng

GEORGE TOWN: The Finance Ministry has denied issuing any media statement on the abolition of Goods and Services Tax (GST) effective this June 1, which went viral on social media yesterday, adding that it is fake, says Lim Guan Eng who has been named as the Finance Minister in the Pakatan Harapan ( PH) government.

Lim said no one from the ministry could issue any statement including the issue of the abolition of GST as he had yet to be sworn in as Finance Minister.

“It’s not true because I can’t issue any directive as I have not been sworn in yet and presently, only Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad can issue statements and directives.

“I have contacted the Prime Minister and he has confirmed that no such directive issued by his side; so the statement is fake and untrue,” he told a media conference here yesterday.

In the press statement allegedly issued by the Finance Ministry, the federal government declared the abolition of the GST with immediate effect on June 1 following the victory of the PH in the 14th general election (GE14).

The fake statement also stated that the abolition of GST was a gift in conjunction with Hari Raya Aidilfitri to the Malaysians who had given the victory to the PH in the general election to form a new government.

However, Lim said, the federal government would continue with its plans to abolish the GST and it would be implemented within 100 days.

“It is true that we will abolish the GST, but because we have yet to be sworn in and have no legal power, so it can’t be implemented yet; but it will be done within 100 days as promised in the PH manifesto,” he said.