Perlis mufti Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin has taken a sarcastic dig at Deputy Finance Minister Ahmad Maslan for belittling the intelligence of former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad over the Goods and Services Tax (GST).

 

“If even Dr M doesn’t understand GST, what more the people of Malaysia whom nearly all are not as experienced in matters of the national economy than he, to understand about GST?”

“If one whom the majority of Malaysians consider as ‘less intelligent’ (to avoid using the word ‘stupid’ because of statements regarding GST, says Dr M who is renowned for his intelligence doesn’t understand GST, is he saying that he is more intelligent compared to Dr M?” asked Asri in a caustic statement on his Facebook last night.

 

He was responding to Ahmad ( left ) who was reported on Astro Awani saying on Twitter that Mahathir was perhaps either does not understand the tax, or is ill-informed and misled by those around him, to want to have the controversial consumption tax abolished.

 

Yesterday morning Mahathir, in another round of attacks against the administration of Prime Minister Najib Razak, said GST should be abolished as even government officers purportedly don’t understand it.

'Should fools be ministers?'

The mufti went on to allude to the deputy minister’s legitimacy in government, using religious allegory.

 

Asri said in Islam, those who are safih (stupid or less intelligent) should not be handed authority to manage their own assets, adding, “So the question is, what about those in this category who are given the authority to manage the country, that affects the people?”

 

“Should such sufaha , (a group of people who are fools or less intelligent) be given important posts such as minister and so on?” he asked.

 

While Asri did not directly mention names, it appears he was referring at least to Maslan, if not perhaps the entire administration.

 

The implementation of a six percent GST starting April 1 has upset both the populace and politicians from both sides of the political divide.

 

NGOs are planning another massive protest against the tax, which they say is unfair and results in inflation that would further burden the people at a time when the economy is doing poorly and wages are low.

 

Criticisms of the tax are exarcebated by accusations that the government and ruling party leaders continue to be spendthrift and wasteful of federal funds.