UMNO AGM | As the proponent of the Goods and Services Tax (GST), it would not be a surprise for Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak to sing praises for the tax system.

But taking a step further today, Najib said without the GST- which critics have time and time again said is a burden on the people - civil servants would not be able to enjoy a salary hike.

“If the government did not have the political courage to implement the GST, the balance of the government’s current fiscal accounts would see a deficit of RM10.6 billion.

“As a result, the government might have to resort to making loans to pay for the salary of civil servants which include teachers and soldiers.

“If that happens, there will be no annual salary increment […] This will in turn affect the welfare of 1.61 million civil servants,” he said.

Implementing the GST, although it was an unpopular move, was therefore the right action to take, he said.

“Praise be to Allah, revenue from the GST has been the saviour in protecting the rakyat from being further burdened if it was not implemented,” he said.

On another ma tter, Najib attacked quarters whom he said have tried to 'punch holes' into the fight to defend the rights of the Malays and bumiputera.

“But they have forgotten how traitorous such moves are. Not only will they drown their opponents, they will also submerge the race and our civilisation," he said.

'Cruel government'

Citing the viewpoints of prominent Islamic scholars like Sulaiman Saloomi, Najib stressed how it was forbidden to topple the government.

“What more through street demonstrations until some even stomped on the pictures of our Malay Muslim leaders," he said.

Najib’s remark was an obvious reference to an incident during the Bersih 4 rally during which two individuals were photographed stomping on a picture of him and PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang.

Najib added that he had asked several Islamic scholars on the definition of a 'cruel government' that needs to be toppled.

“The question is, can a government which has given its best, built countless of roads for the people, be considered a cruel government?” he asked.