NGO: Tweet PM today if you're against GST

Non-governmental organisation Jerit has urged the people to tweet to Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak beginning noon today to protest against the government's proposal to introduce the goods and services tax (GST).

Jerit, which is linked with Parti Sosialis Malaysia, launched the protest against the much-criticised GST yesterday, with a nationwide protest in seven areas - Kuala Lumpur, Johor Baru, Ipoh, Kajang, Shah Alam, Malacca and Seremban.

"The people are urged to tweet to Najib, who is also finance minister, beginning noon at his Twitter @NajibRazak and #NoGST," Jerit said in a statement, adding that the proposed tax would make the rakyat poorer.

“The Twitter campaign is from noon to 2pm and again from 5pm to 7pm.” Some of the interesting tweets sent to Najib included:

Ong Kian Ming: #NOGST please @NajibRazak @idrisjala_ Reduce corruption & wastage first.

PSM Semenyih: Tax the Rich Not The Poor. #NOGST @NajibRazak @IdrisJala

Nalani Murugiah: Too many leakage in your administration @NajibRazak Sack @IdrisJala_ cause he gives brilliant ideas to screw rakyat! #NOGST

Jerit: When it comes to GST, Msia justify see other countries, when it is Human Rights issues Malaysia is hypocrite #NOGST @NajibRazak @IdrisJala_

Seng Hean:  GST good for the country @NajibRazak @idris_jala pay the GST,  do not involve the people #ThanksBNvoter #NOGST

SivaJERIT: Raise workers pay not impose GST tax! #NOGST @NajibRazak

Jom Bantah TPPA: Why does the government want to burden 99 per cent of the rakyat, where else existing income and corporate tax is sufficient #NOGST @NajibRazak @IdrisJala

Pojan: The present tax is already a burden and the people cannot stand it. Now want to implement GST oh @NajibRazak ?? #NOGST

Salahdin: I work my ass off, got to pay income tax and GST. Some Tan Sri sitting quietly earning his capital gains. No tax on that! @JERIT02 @najibrazak #No2GST

ZiPPO: Not enough only to say #NoGST but say #NoBN and No @NajibRazak

Rally ahead of Budget

Besides this, PAS is also holding a protest at the entrance to Parliament at 3pm tomorrow, which is when Budget 2014 will be tabled.

Opponents of GST said the majority of Malaysians, especially the lower income earners, will bear the brunt of the new tax.

They argued that the government should delay introducing the GST until it has cut hundreds of millions of ringgit lost to wasteful spending and corruption.

With the new tax, the government hopes to slash its budget deficit to 3.5 percent, with the aim of getting back into black by 2020.

To alleviate the pain, it may cut income tax when the GST is implemented, but given that less than 15 percent of the working population pay tax, a lower income rate will only be going to benefit a small group of people.

Yesterday, several protests were mounted in seven cities and towns nationwide as people took to the streets to demonstrate against the controversial tax.