YOURSAY ‘There should be flexibility in GST implementation for first two years.’

 

GST notches up death number one

Fair&Just: I agree with the plight of those elderly businessmen who are not so educated and computer-savvy.

 

This dastardly government imposes the Goods and Services Tax (GST) with many sticks and no carrot such as heavy penalties for late registration, and in the haste to avoid this, some with turnover lower than threshold are stuck with the GST and forced to pay the tax out of their own pocket.

 

There should be flexibility in the GST implementation for the first two years. But the government has no money, cannot wait and has to squeeze the rakyat. Blood is definitely on their hands and they shall pay when the time comes.

 

1Citizen: Since GST, my pisang goreng has gone up from RM1 to RM1.50. And my kacang rebus, from RM5 to RM5.30. I wonder how many of the common people can afford that kind of luxury?

 

The Analyser: What sort of sensationalist garbage reporting is this? Every small businessman in the country would have complained about the introduction of the GST, but that's not sufficient reason to commit suicide.

 

Legit: The Analyser, it may seem like “sensational garbage” to you as you must have been born with a silver spoon in your mouth.

 

You do not understand the plight of these uneducated poor elderly people. This government has to bear the responsibility for this tragedy and not wash its hands off by saying there are other reasons for the suicide.

 

The Customs officers and even Deputy Finance Minister Ahmad Maslan do not understand how the GST works and they shun away from providing answers to the public. How do you expect these old folks cope with it?

 

The government should not have implemented the GST this way but gradually start with certain sectors first until everybody is comfortable with it.

 

But then you only have incompetent and third-rate officers running this government machinery without any imagination or creativity, so what do you expect?

 

Homesick: Legit, The Analyser thinks too highly of himself. However most of his analyses are baseless and nonsensical.

 

The Analyser: Legit, I said nothing to demean the late Lim Tai Choon. However, it’s my opinion that the journalist oversimplified his situation simply to heap more blame on the government. 

 

If that's the way they think they can best support the opposition, then it’s a good thing the Pakatan Rakyat is on its way to the bone yard.

 

I certainly do live in my own world - a world dominated by common sense, intelligent debate, true democracy and egalitarianism for all Malaysians. It seems I'm the only one here.

 

Legit: The Analyser, I am sure you have heard of the old saying, “Self-praise is a disgrace”.

 

Anonymous_40f4: Umno-BN is screwing the rakyat left, right and centre with the GST and other price rises.

 

Malaysia has plenty of natural resources yet the government still wants to impose GST on the rakyat.

 

The 47 percent who voted for the Umno-BN government should be ashamed of themselves.

 

Wong Fei Hoong: I can sense how frustrating it is for small traders and shops to implement GST. It’s sad to hear that it drives people to death.

 

However, many thanks to MCA and Gerakan for having a hand in causing such a death. They had supported the implementation of GST in Parliament.

 

Fairplayer: I believe these elderly folks who run ‘kedai runcit’ were really being terrorised by the fear of having their little shops raided.

 

I wouldn't be surprised if the deceased had had a bad experience with law enforcement officers who could be very ruthless.

 

No elderly people would commit suicide if there is no one to inherit their business. They will just simply close shop. Shop-owners do have enough common sense even if they lack high education.

 

 

Idris Jala - setting the record straight

 

Jratnam: Reality is what all of us see around us with our own eyes. At the end of the day, reality is what matters to us, the people.

 

We can see clearly in most places, even in the Klang Valley, other than at Kuala Lumpur City Centre (KLCC), that things are going downhill and as a people we are moving backwards.

 

This is all contrary to the glowing reports and optimistic statements our leaders, including Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department and Pemandu chief Idris Jala make on a regular basis.

 

You were the CEO of Malaysia Airlines (MAS) not so long ago and what did you leave despite the glowing reports about how you turned MAS around?

 

If it was true, how could MAS have deteriorated so quickly after your departure?

 

Tikusmati: When there is no transparency, then people will perceive what they want to. Transparency does not mean only show what the government want you to see.

 

It is quite "apparent" (perception again) that the government has not been transparent in many important areas.

 

Being transparent in certain areas is being deceitful. It like telling a half-truth, where the other half is more important but is not told.

 

Fair Play: Defending the indefensible is definitely not defensible.

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