China Press Daily dated May 1 has reported that MCA Wanita chief Heng Seai Kie when commenting on the Goods and Services Tax (GST) on April 30 in Rompin said the following:

1. GST is absolutely good for the Chinese community because it is a tax system where everyone pays, and the government no longer places the taxpaying responsibility on the Chinese community only;

2. The Chinese community should not oppose GST because the Chinese have the highest income in the nation and 90 percent of the nation’s tax revenue comes from them, and with GST all who spend will be required to pay.  

It is clear that Heng was playing the race card in trying to justify the GST implementation.  This not only shows her irresponsibility but also proves that the BN government is under heavy pressure due to its inability justify GST implementation to the people.

On April 12, DAP political education director Liew Chin Tong in a statement said deputy finance minister Ahmad Maslan had been saying n numerous ceramah that GST was good for the Malays because Chinese traders would now be forced to pay taxes, which they had allegedly evaded before, and at the same time MCA leaders told the Chinese community that the Malays, who had not been paying income taxes, would now be taxed.

Not true Chinese pay less

I want to ask Heng if she agrees with Ahmad Mazlan’s racial approach in explaining GST to the Malays and if she dares to use her own racial explanation to the Chinese to a Malay ceramah crowd?

It is most irresponsible for BN politicians to play the race card in the GST issue. If they are unable to justify its implementation, they should be bold enough to tell the Prime Minister Najib Razak to just scrap it.

Heng was also quoted saying that in Malaysia, anyone can oppose GST but not the Chinese, as they have fewer children and hence would spend less and pay less GST.

Heng’s argument is shallow and unacceptable.

Does she not know that majority of Chinese are urban dwellers and they have to face higher costs of living?

Whether it is property assessment rates, quit rent, transport costs, children’s after school tuition class fees, the urban dwellers are definitely and naturally paying more.

For those who have to send one, two or more children to private institutions of higher learning, life is even more difficult and some parents actually have to use their EPF funds to help fund their children’s education.

I do not agree with any racial approach to the GST issue, but since Heng wanted to play the race card, she must at least give an accurate picture. Why did she avoid the issue of Chinese financial commitments and burden?

Heng should know that GST affects all Malaysians, and Chinese have the right and good reason to oppose it.

( Editor's note: China Press has since apologised to Heng after the latter complained of being misquoted. However netizens have uploaded what is claimed to be the recording of Heng's speech to support China Press' original report. )

GST - Malays will pay more, Heng tells Chinese

TERESA KOK is DAP national vice chairperson and MP for Seputeh.