Deputy Finance Minister Ahmad Maslan has confirmed that he did not receive any instruction from top Umno leadership to stop making remarks about the Goods and Services tax (GST).

This comes after an Astro Awani report, quoting a source, that said that Ahmad had been given a gag order on the matter.

"No one from the top Umno leadership informed me of it," he said at a press conference in Permatang Pauh today.

Pressed further whether he had received any warnings, Ahmad ( right ) replied, "Tidak ada" (none).

When asked whether he will keep on talking about the GST, Ahmad said if he did not do so, the opposition will "win".

Ahmad then rationalised by saying that he had learned about the GST in an in-depth manner and had been the government's spokesperson since 2013.

"I have gone from Perlis to Sabah to talk about the GST, and I have been consistent on it," he said.

They are scared of me

When pointed out that the source quoted by Astro Awani said that the opposition often manipulated his statements on the GST, Ahmad said: "That's because they are scared of me".

The Umno source had said that Ahmad was told to stop talking about the GST especially during the campaigning period in Rompin and Permatang Pauh.

He was allegedly told to do so as Pakatan Rakyat were "manipulating" his statements on the GST and using it against Umno in the respective by-elections.

Ahmad has been criticised by academicians to even former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad on his statements on the GST.

Checks on social media often find netizens criticising the deputy minister. At times, even though the matter discussed is not on the GST at all, Ahmad will have his name dragged into it one way or another.