VOXPOP 'It is the government's failure in the management/allocation of the nation's resources which causes the problems.'

Gov't to implement GST after nod from businesses

Versey: In the United Kingdom, the starting VAT (Value Added Tax) was only about three percent and now it is close to 20 percent. Is UK's economy better now than before the implementation of VAT?

France, Greece, Italy, Spain, etc, all have implemented VAT/GST (Good and Services Tax), and what has happened to their economies?

It is the government's failure in its economic policies and management/allocation of the nation's resources which cause the problems.

If this government were to continue its corrupt practices, cronyism and nepotism, even if it were to implement GST at 20 percent, 1Care, etc, it will still be of no use except to lead the country faster to a situation like the one faced by Greece.

OMG: Implementing GST must be matched with lower income tax rates. Otherwise those people who actually work really hard for their salaries are being penalised more.

The GST is good as it widens the tax base to include all those people who currently don't pay any income tax, and yet benefit from government-funded initiatives.

But the government should lower our income tax. Otherwise it is a double whammy.

SusahKes: The problem generally is not in the idea; the problem is with BN's track record of running this country, there really isn't much confidence in anything they undertake, even if the idea has potential.

Manjit Bhatia: I'm not surprised. GST was bandied about in 2010 and 2011 to 'test the waters'. Umno-BN is testing the waters again. I'm surprised at the 4% GST rate, though.

That GST is a fairer tax is utter rubbish. Its fairness is found in its overall design and implementation, plus attendant administrative costs. There are questions about exclusions/inclusions, justifications and costs. Plus the matter of sharing GST revenue with all states.

GST - bottomline - is about the state raising new revenues to boost its emptying coffers. If GST comes on the back of an unreformed taxation system, it'll be massively unfair. It'll certainly add to total costs without doing anything for marginal costs or total output.

And without net productivity increases, net income gains for Malaysians and a reformed taxation system plus removal of other economic distortions, i.e. state subsidies, the cost burden on Malaysians will be enormously disadvantageous and inequitable.

Wira: So people, you have heard it. The BN government will implement GST. There is no doubt that this will happen after the next general election.

Will we be told that this is all in committee (or study stage) and that no final decision has been made ala Liow ‘1Care' Tiong Lai?

Devilsadvocate: Why is the government is seeking the business community's opinion when it is the rakyat that will be heavily affected? Businesses will just pass on the cost of GST to the consumers.

Perkasa: Najib went to Batu Caves with 'unity torch'

Pants on Fire: For once I agree with Perkasa chief Ibrahim Ali. But why must he come out and say "maybe, maybe"?

We want the PM Najib Najib to say he did it as he is the PM of Malaysians. What is Pakatan Rakyat's stand on this?

Will their PM go to Batu Caves as the Malaysian PM? Anyone care to answer? I don't see anything wrong in a PM going for a Malaysian function.

Perakian: Nothing new here, Ibrahim Ali is just re-confirming that he is with BN.

Abil: Najib went to Thaipusam to beg for votes, the Indian votes that can keep the BN in power to continue swindling the Indians.

Najib agrees that the BN government has marginalised the Indians and he wants to correct that if the Indians support him.

But he has failed to uplift the Indians all these years in power and but yet wants to them to have ‘nambikei' (trust) in him and BN.

Black Mamba: Najib felt offended visiting churches with the crucifix hanging on the wall with song of praise and prayers offered but was grinning from ear to ear to have Lord Muruga statute lording over his small stature while robed with a humongous garland with religious chants and little bells ringing around him.

So, when is Najib visiting the Chinese temple? I'm sure the temple monks would be more than pleased to suit him up with a huge revered yellow robe and offer him joss sticks to place on an altar.

Najib slams Anwar for being 'two-faced' on Israel

Magic Mountain: I don't care about the Israel/Palestine conflict. I care about the Filipinos and Indonesians in Sabah having ICs.
I care about out retirement funds being used to finance housing for these foreigners. I care that native lands in Sarawak are being acquired illegally.

I care about the judiciary - on whether they are independent or not. I care about our tax money being misused, the jobless graduates in Malaysia, etc.

I still do not understand what it is with Malaysia. Did Israel send a whole lot of refugees to Malaysia? No. Did they sponsor terrorists or finance any armed subversion in Malaysia? No.

Did they empty our country's coffers via corrupted practices? No. Did they cause our economy to fail? No.

Did they touch any of our citizens? No. Did they burn our mosques? No. Did they kill Teoh Boon Hock? No. Ahmad Sarbani? No.

Did they threaten not to buy our oil or palm oil products? No. Did they cause our traffic jams, floods, landslides? No.

What the heck are we so uptight about a country which is thousands of miles away when at our doorstep we have people who are doing worse things to our country? And they are not Israelis.

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