YOURSAY | ‘But I thought the PM said ‘GST is good for you’? How can it be celaka?’
After Rayer's victory, Guan Eng goes on 'celaka' tirade against GST
GMK: The goods and services tax (GST) is a good tax, but in Malaysia it is used to compensate for the losses incurred from alleged blatant corruption and simply thieving. On the other hand, the earning power of the people has not been able to catch up with the escalating inflation.
All these are the result of poor governance by the past and current governments. If properly managed, we may not need GST at the moment.
GST is supplementary to direct income taxes, but in Malaysia it was used to make good losses incurred by alleged corrupt practices. The people bear the brunt. Worse, many do not realise this and keep supporting the regime.
The Analyser: This is great coming from 'the great financial manager'. All across the world a GST form of taxation is widely accepted as one of the most equable forms of taxation.
But not in Penang where Lim Guan Eng is pandering to the Chinese who will go to no end of trouble to avoid acknowledging their responsibility to the society in which they live.
A miserly money-obsessed insecure little man who will abandon all principles and ethics simply to grovel for votes. Clearly his hatred has got the better of what little common sense he has.
Vijay47: The Analyser is right when he says that GST is a widely accepted form of taxation - India has just amended its constitution to permit GST and the bill was supported by no less than the opposition party Congress.
The fervent resistance in Malaysia to any new tax or hike in existing ones is that nobody can see it as a necessary evil but more as another profitable conduit for Umno to manipulate for its own benefit.
Coming to the recent DAP function in Penang, quite understandably, some of the writers here have voiced their discomfort and displeasure over Guan Eng's use of the word ‘celaka’ following Seri Delima assemblyperson RSN Rayer's acquittal. I would agree that on this score, Guan Eng was being a bit childish.
But victories against the dark forces, small as they may be, are so few and far in between that Penang's chief minister should not be denied the rare occasion to do a spot of gloating.
Just a Malaysian: Analyser, please go to the village and see how the pakciks and makciks suffer from GST before you make derogatory remarks on the Chinese and DAP.
The Chinese can and will survive GST better than others, but the fight against GST is actually a fight for all Malaysians.
Fogbom: Clearly, Analyser’s hatred of Guan Eng/DAP/Chinese has got the better of what little common sense he has.
When the Cash King's allegedly corrupt government (is now officially certified as kleptocrats by the US Department of Justice), that means this GST, imposed by alleged pirates to stave off their imploding economy, should be deemed a celaka issue, as Guan Eng did.
As for buying a house at below market value, this is personally known to me and I think the public is quite aware that it happens. A public official has to exercise greater care and Guan Eng made a mistake.
If there really is a law that they must not buy below market value, Guan Eng could have declared it to the exco and documented their acceptance or otherwise of it - that would have probably cleared him. This is just post hoc.
As for GST, it is another good measure to spread the tax net wider. An allegedly corrupt government should not be given this tool, that's the point.
Awakened: Being a Hakka from Malacca, I used to hear the word ‘celaka’ whenever they are not happy with something. The Hakka pronounce ‘celaka’ as ‘cilakak’.
I am happy that Rayer was acquitted. It just doesn’t make sense to charge someone with uttering such common words.
Apple Polishing I am Not: Do you know, lots of Malaysians are facing daily rising expenditure due partly to GST and the weakening ringgit?
If today Malaysia had been following Norway's (another petroleum exporting country) strategy by saving up the petroleum revenue during the good times when crude oil was more than US$100/barrel, (Year 2008 peak US$140+, today US$41), Malaysia would be the richest country in Southeast Asia.
Have we been saving? Norway has the best sovereign funds in the world with more than US$1,000 billion invested to care for its present and future generations.
We believe that without GST (or reduced GST rate) we should be able to ride through if our government had saved up the petroleum revenue during the good old days for our present/future generations.
Norman Fernandez: Guan Eng, you are the chief minister of a state. You are the government. Don't demean your office. Don't act like a member of the opposition.
Worldly Wise: Moderation is the hallmark of a leader. If GST should not be imposed, please explain to the voters in simple correct terms why it should not be imposed. How will Pakatan Harapan raise money? Please explain that as well.
Hati Awasi: I’m glad that Rayer can finally focus on his tasks. I wonder why is it that when Umno Youth and red shirts behaved like gangsters, whether at DAP headquarters or elsewhere, only limited action is taken.
Have those holding entrusted power acted with impartially, sincerity and faithfully? Can we imagine what would have happened if the opposite of these incidents were to happen?
Sadly, how can Malaysia progress as a democratic nation despite its rich natural resources? God is watching. One day, we will be judged.
Responsible Malaysian: Isn't strange that we keep saying some words which we think are rude, but we keep condemning others if those words come out from their mouths?
In any society, how can you have two groups of politicians of which one is super-clean with no corruption at all, whereas the other one is filled with endless greed as though there is no tomorrow?
It is understandable that we have been too frustrated with corruption, and into believing that there are super-clean politicians coming to rescue us. Be realistic, we have to accept that it may take many decades to change the mentality of the people.
In our society, how can you keep condemning the much lesser evil ones but submitting to the most evil ones? It is clear that we all are involved in some form of corruption every day. It has been a culture.
Cogito Ergo Sum: But I thought “GST is good for you”? That's what the PM and his brilliant cabinet have been drumming into my rural neighbours and friends? How can it be celaka?
One of you is obviously wrong.
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