'Street demo the final answer'

Free Malaysia Today - Street demonstration - that will be the final way to pressure the government if it still insists on introducing the Goods and Services Tax (GST) next year. This is the conclusion made at an "'Anti-GST" forum held here.

The forum was organised by Parti Sosialis Malaysia (Seremban branch), with the participation of the state PKR, DAP and PAS.

The panellists are S Arutchelvan (PSM secretary-general), Loke Siew Fook (Rasah MP), Mohd Taufek Abdul Ghani (Paroi state assemblyman) and Badrul Hisham Shahrin (PKR supreme council member). About 50 people attended the forum.

Loke promised that the Pakatan Rakyat MPs will table a motion and pressure the government to abandon the GST when the Dewan Rakyat sitting resumes on March 15. He also suggested that the only way to end government's harassment of the poor in the form of GST is to change the federal government in the next general election.

Badrul Hisham, or popularly known as Chegu Bard, insisted that if the government js stubborn and refused to look into the plight of the people, then the only option left is for the people to take to the streets in a massive show of protest.

Chegu Bard also expressed concern that once the GST Bill is approved, the Finance Minster will increase the GST rate without tabling it in Parliament. (When the Goods and Services Tax Bill 2009 is passed, it will come into force in mid-2011 at a 4% rate. The GST will replace the current sales and services tax.)

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Comments (14) Add Comment

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written by NottyMaus, March 18, 2010 02:37:51

Excuse me, lynn.

I don't understand your statement ..."and us still still paying income tax for those earning between RM36k to RM72k per annum. "

Please elaborate...thanks.

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written by taxpayer, March 15, 2010 10:19:18

BN government is looking into ways of 'LEACHING' on the Rakyats but never on improving the lives of the common man. Instead of increasing price of petrol,sugar,tolls,water, electricity etc. they should try to improve the pot holed roads,clogged drains,crime control,better health faclities[not M.A.manned 1 Malaysia clinics] etc. WHY IS GST THAT IMPORTANT NOW! ! ! People are burdened with various taxes,which are being GROSSLY misused by BN Govt, so why the ? Instead BN should cut costs in their overseas trips and various perks given to them. This is supposedly a DEMOCRATIC country but we get a feeling we are being ruled by communists. It seems we have to Demonstrate Crazily in this Demo Cratic country, to get our rights. SICKENING !

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written by lynn, March 14, 2010 23:55:06

At all costs, people must stop the govt from implementing GST - no to GST at our current low wages (mthly fixed lowly salary) and us still still paying income tax for those earning between RM36k to RM72k per annum. NO NO NO NO NO NO NO to bn - change govt in the next GE!

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written by lynn, March 14, 2010 23:49:56

korektion, education relief for kids aged 18 & above, minimum RM8000 per annum. Will bn do it? No, it won't - but it wants to implement GST! Go to hell, bn!

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written by lynn, March 14, 2010 23:48:19

Remember BERSIH? Hindraf? It was damn effective. It raises awaresness across the breadth & length of this country. Thanks to BERSIH, most ppl were focused on possible cheating, etc. It made bn nervous & afraid ..... it changed the political landscape of Malaysia forever!

The govt MUST increase personal relief from RM8k to at least RM12k - child relief shld be increased RM3k per kid - for children over 18, doing studies at local unis, colleges, education relief shld be increased to at least RM10 per kid. Otherwise, KICK BN out! We will.

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written by NSTPravda, March 14, 2010 18:50:37

We strongly disagree with Chegu Bard that the government is stubborn, the government is just being UMNO, corrupt and greedy. Street demo is NOT the final answer, kicking the rapacious bandits out of the government is the true answer. Al-UMNOdollarlah!
smilies/tongue.gif

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written by NottyMaus, March 14, 2010 17:45:37

Yeo Hiap Seng Dark Soy Sauce, or Light Soy Sos, or canned fermented beans etc ...

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written by NottyMaus, March 14, 2010 17:43:32

A bottle of Yeo Hiap Seng from Shah Alam costs Rm 2.20 wholesale.

By the time my Grandma who works her small vegetable plot in the fringe of Kapit town of Sarawak gets it
to season her fish, it could cost her Rm 3.60.

Unfortunately, my Grandma will not know why she should join the crowd to hit the streets in KL !

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written by Aria, March 14, 2010 10:30:26

The GST will make life much harder for the poor who are just making ends meet. Price of goods and services will go up by whatever the percentage of GST imposed. This is because the businessman is not going to take the GST onto himself. The government is lying or stupid if it says GST will not increase inflation.

Demonstrate, fight or whatever but do not let GST be implemented. The government is stealing billions, just tell them to stop stealing and there will be enough money to run Malaysia.

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written by Better My, March 14, 2010 08:09:40

Even though the Gst is good for a properly run open democratice government, like what PR is expected to be, it should never be run under the present ruling party who has forfeited the right to implement GST and use of extra GST revenue.

To those who object to GST under PR government, I strongly suggest not to harden your stand as GST would benefit Malaysia when the extra GST fund is used wisely with safeguards/safety nets, properly run. You may want argue for some food items to be GST free - at least, the poor has access to without paying to pay for GST. Eg fresh food, like in australia - fresh meat, fresh vegetables, eggs, unprocessed food. to be gst free. You may want to argue for 10%, or less, and not 15%.

It takes a very brave party to increase GST when open governments are in place. I expect lots of productivty improvements to increase wealth to Malaysia after PR Fedral government is formed. Together with 10% gst, the revenue to Malysia would be substantial for great things to do.

Abolish ISA. We have stopped listening to you. For Malasia.

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written by inserter, March 14, 2010 05:52:49

this tax that tax, here toll there toll and corruption is so rampant- street demonstration? bring it on baby, we the rakyat will be there.

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written by storm62, March 14, 2010 05:31:05

With the GST and the same old salary with the struggling economy, the poor Rakyats will be demonstrating in the streets, under the hot sun with blazing chemical laced water cannon cooling them down while the elite umno malays will be enjoying their high tea in posh hotels and watching the demo from afar.

and they call themselves "juara rakyat" and shouting "ketuanan melayu"......sheer bullshit !!!

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written by AlwaysFair, March 14, 2010 05:24:31

THis farking govt will just line up the polis and shoot tear gas and water at the poor people. But I suppose it is better than nothing. A govt who never have checks and balances and address corruption issues properly will have a lot of leakages and finally the pond will dry up and the people will have to suffer. It is a shame if M'sia become like Greece one day when we are a country with such great resources, but unfortunately with bad leaders who mismanaged the economy until they day when instead of tranforming into a high income earning country we deteriorate into one with LOW income but HIGH cost of living.

If you don't change we will change you!!

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written by ibabonma, March 14, 2010 04:58:34

It's 'good', anyway, prices will skyrocketing like the DAP rocket if that's the sacrifice we need to take to force the bodo Melayu Umno hitting the streets by way of demonstrations.