KUALA LUMPUR, May 13 ― Deputy Finance Minister Datuk Ahmad Maslan lamented today that he is the “most hated person in Malaysia” because of the newly implemented Good and Services Tax (GST).
“I am Ahmad Maslan, the most hated person in Malaysia because of GST,” he said in a second speech specifically on GST after launching the Product Quality Compliance Seminar at the Technology Park Malaysia here
The deputy minister said he is now immune the relentless attacks on social media, with all kinds of names being thrown at him.
“Among them, the worst thing is shit (tahi) and Muslims don’t like pigs (babi). They say my face is like a pig's shit.
“I am already immune to all kinds of accusations because I know what I am doing for the Malaysian government is the right thing to do,” Ahmad stressed.
The Umno information chief had been at the forefront of disseminating information about the new tax system but had been heavily criticised for some of the comments he had made, including telling university students to cook at home to avoid being burdened by GST.
He also went on to comment about the public uproar over GST charged on prepaid reload cards.
Ahmad said when he met with the chief executive officers of four main telecommunications firms on April 3 to explain the need to absorb GST, their excuse was that it was unfair for them to continue to absorb the tax as they had previously absorbed the 6 per cent sales and services tax.
“Who asked them to absorb the tax? This was their excuse.
“Whatever the excuse, they have to return to the original price because that was the Cabinet’s decision on April 3, that was a while back, why didn’t they act on it then?” he said.
The deputy minister then recalled that the prime minister had issued a gag order on the matter to non-ministers and declined to comment further on the matter.
Hours after his speech, Communications and Multimedia Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek announced that the prices for the prepaid reload remain the same but less credit will be available as the 6 per cent GST will be included in the final price.
