LETTER | It’s the eleventh day post-GE14. People are still in the euphoric state. They are still enjoying the show where the police and MACC are taking action against Najib Abdul Razak and his wife.

Many are still living in the honeymoon phase and demanding the new reps to fulfil their promises. When the PM Dr Mahathir Mohamad announced he is taking over the education portfolio, many jumped and demanded he let it go and keep to Pakatan Harapan's promise and he did just that.

I have a feeling Harapan was going for broke during the campaigning period. They basically offered the sun and the moon. The GST's removal and toll-free roads were some of the promises made.

Come June 1st, GST will be zero-rated. The petrol price has been fixed as per the current price during the campaign period and Harapan promised to make petrol available at RM1.50.

By next week, we will know about the toll status. The promise made was toll-free roads.

I am not privy to all the financial details other than those published in public domains. From my reading, abolishing the GST will cost Malaysia RM45 billion while abolishing tolls will cost the government RM325 billion.

The government needs to find replacement income. I doubt the SST and current income tax rate will be enough for the government to make up the lost revenue. Will the government increase income tax?

The GST, to my mind, is fair provided the income tax is reduced. To satisfy election pledges and help the poor, the government can expand the list of common consumer items to be zero-rated or to allow consumers that earn a certain annual income to claim the GST paid via the income tax. What is wrong with maintaining a lifestyle tax on those who can afford it?

I wouldn’t want to comment much about the Harapan's government plan to abolish toll collections until I hear Daim Zainuddin's announcement next week.

I believe it is acceptable for the government to nationalise and reduce the rates for intra-city tolls in the Klang Valley, Johor Baru and Penang but they can maintain the toll for the North-South highway.

The urban toll rate can be kept to the minimum to cover maintenance costs. We must not forget that shutting down the tolled highways will also cost a few thousand people to lose their jobs.

The country finances are not great. Harapan has made many promises beyond practicality and Malaysians must realize that they should not push the government to the limit with their demands and put undue strain on the country's financials.

The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.