More than 1,300 medicines have been added to the goods and services (GST) zero-rated supplies list, bumping up the total to 4,215 medicines.

This includes cholesterol-reducing Simvastatin, which the anti-GST activists asked about in their list of 106 questions posed to the Customs Department during the sit-in on Monday.

The list was made available on the Customs website last night.

"The additional zero-rated medicines was recently approved following concerns raised by relevant authorities," Customs GST Division senior assistant director II Norazura Hashim was quoted by The Star as saying.

She said this at a briefing on GST and health in Putrajaya today.

The GST will be implemented on April 1 despite strong public objection in a bid to boost government revenue.

The Anti-GST coalition had asked if Sulperazone, an antibiotics used to fight severe infections, Simvastatin and anti-HIV medications.

Superalzone was not in the zero-rated list.

"The 2006 Malaysia National Health Policy states that all kinds of medicines are tax-exempted to ensure that patients have access to medicine.

"However, this is in contrary to the current situation where medicines are not GST-exempted. Why is this so?" the coalition asked.

Only one of the 106 questions was answered by Customs officials that day, but 82 activists were arrested.

Some claim they were roughed up by anti-riot personnel and have lodged complaints.

A total 25 were charged with illegal assembly, while the government promised to answer the questions posed.

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