Louis: PM Najib Razak, it is not a question of GST (Goods and Services Tax) is ‘halal’ or not. It is a question of why you should introduce it.
There would not be any protest of its implementation had you managed the budget prudently. On our part, we have to fork out extra ringgit on GST, which is a burden for many poor people.
This is a small sacrifice I should say for the country's need. But, on your part, do you make any sacrifices? Not as far as we can see.
While many are surviving on a shoestring budget, you see fit to buy a new jet , which was luxuriously refurbished at a cost of many millions.
Now the question is: "Is it ‘halal’ for you to spend so much for your comfort, while many are living from hand to mouth?"
Commentable: Najib, as far as the GST taxpayer is concerned, it is only the contributor who knows whether his or her money paid to the government is ‘halal’ or not.
But as far as the government is concerned (or any other government in this world for that matter), as a receiver of those monies, I don't think it will give a damn whether the money is ‘halal’. It functions like a huge fishing trawler, netting in whatever cash that comes in its way.
So on this hard-to-forget-day when the GST muscled its way into our lives on the back of April Fool’s day, Najib could have at least spared us some thought and left us to suffer in silence.
But no, he has to take a swipe at our intelligence and take us as fools.
Anonymous$&@?: Does the PM and his ministers need to use religion to cover up for their actions, be it good or bad?
If certification from the religious councils gives a public servant complete immunity from being questioned, then the rakyat is in deep s**t.
Ben-ghazi: The government (the taker of GST) says it's ‘halal’ but if the giver declares it is ‘tak halal’ then according to what I know about giving and taking in Islam, it is not ‘halal’ to take the GST money from that person.
It must be mutually declared ‘halal’ by both giver and taker. So, I advise Najib to take a second look at his one-sided ‘halal’ declaration.
Mushiro: Najib has declared GST as ‘halal’. The National Fatwa Council had earlier said the GST is 'harus' (neither discouraged nor encouraged) as long as the country needs it.
PAS Dewan Ulama information chief Khairuddin Aman Razali said GST is 'haram' (forbidden) because it does not meet Islamic taxation standards.
It shows that the nation is not only not ready for hudud, it is also not ready for GST.
Odysseus: And will there be a fatwa on overpriced items and overpriced government contracts?
Apapunboleh: Thanks for the clarification, Najib. Now we know GST on bak kut teh, massage parlour, liquor and gambling are ‘halal’.
Dalvik: The declaration of GST as 'halal' is definitely confusing. Did our PM mean that ‘haram’ items such as pork and alcoholic drinks are exempted from GST?
If they are taxed with GST, how can GST be ‘halal’?
Anonymous #33227154: Many small traditional businesses are forced to close because they are not able to meet the GST requirements. Why is the government not helping them to register for GST or make the processes much simpler?
Some food stalls have increased their prices from 10% to 20%, which is far more than the 6% GST amount. GST is causing lots of hardship and suffering to the people when it's not implemented properly.
RCZ: Religion is being used and applied on everything. Why can't sound financial and economic principles be enough? What does the government think that the rakyat are so stupid and they must be told it is okay under religion.
Is it so that they don't raise any issue on GST? Next thing will be that anyone who talks about GST will be against religion, therefore inciting hatred and therefore to be charged for sedition.
This is a tax that will hit the end user. The end user will feel the pinch and hardship the most as the taxes imposed on manufacturers, retailers and shopkeepers would be reflected in increased prices. There is no running away from this tenet of how GST works.
Sinan Belawan: Is the BN government ‘halal’? The last few general elections were not free, fair and clean. Read the findings of the People’s Tribunal.
So GST is now a religious tax? It’s a sign of desperate leadership when a leader clings on to religion to justify his actions. We may soon see billboards screaming - ‘GST is Halal’.
Paul Warren: Finally we can say "Now everyone is a taxpayer". So I am not complaining.
Firestone: The non-Muslims do not care if GST is ‘halal’ or otherwise - we are more concerned with the way you waste our money, Najib.
A new private jet is a sin. And even for a non-Muslim like us, sin is not ‘halal’.
Anonymous_4196: The problem is I and perhaps the majority of the rakyat don't trust Najib and BN with our taxes. Will they use our money to rescue 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB)? Will we witness more questionable transactions?
Will he buy another plane when Malaysia is laden with debt? Will there be any more overpriced services and things that the government is acquiring?
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