KUALA LUMPUR: The people are upset that the prices of goods have not decreased despite the zero-rating of the Goods and Services Tax (GST), said former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.
The Pekan member of parliament said based on the feedback he received from the people, the prices of goods remained high despite the government’s move to zero-rate GST.
“I can see that the people are disappointed. The prices of some products like cars have gone down but in general, the prices of daily goods have not gone down. In fact, the prices of some goods have gone up.
“So, the promise Pakatan Harapan made that they will reduce the cost of living will never be fulfilled.
“Apart from that, the people are also worried that the move to reintroduce the Sales and Services Tax (SST)will cause prices to go up,” he told reporters after the opening of the 14th Parliament here today.
The former Umno president said he will raise the issue of the prices of goods in Parliament and promised to deliver the desired facts.
He said the implementation of SST will have an adverse effect on the people.
“The zero-rating of GST did not have any effect on the people. With SST, the people’s burden will increase.”
Yesterday, Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng said the SST rate is set at 10 per cent for sales and
six per cent for services.
Lim had said the bill on the SST, which will replace the Goods and Services Tax (GST), was expected to be passed in Parliament next month and reintroduced on Sept 1 this year.
The SST was expected to bring in revenue of RM4 billion, he was quoted as saying.