KUALA LUMPUR, March 18 — A member of parliament evoked amusement when he conveyed in the Dewan Rakyat, his female constituents’ anxiety about having to pay more for sanitary napkins when the GST is enforced on April 1.
“Kotex (sanitary napkins) will cost more… the women grumbled that they would then have to pay GST every month!.. and many other things such as tomato sauce, cili sauce, sharpeners, pencils and toilet cleaners.
“They said they are confused and asking whether these things will be charged GST,” said Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing (BN-Bintulu) to laughter, while debating the motion of thanks on the Yang di-Pertuan Agong’s speech in parliament today.
He said he had attended a briefing on GST (Goods and Services Tax) and noted that only certain items would be affected by the new tax.
“But now it seems that a lot of basic items needed by the people would be imposed GST; this would place a financial burden on those who are in the low and middle-income bracket,” he said.
Tiong also asked why enforcement agencies had not taken action against traders who were promoting their products through advertisements that presented a negative view of the GST, such as ‘Best Sales Before GST’ and ‘Premium Sales Pre-GST’.
At this, Nga Kor Ming (DAP-Taiping) and Chong Chieng Jen (DAP-Bandar Kuching) stood up and interjected that Tiong should support the motion to delay the implementation of the GST.
Chua Tian Chang (PKR-Batu) also cut in to express that the GST would keep foreign investors away.
However, Tiong said he was in favour of the GST that had already been implemented in 160 countries, and dismissed the opposition’s proposal as “twisted” to serve their own agenda. — Bernama
