MP SPEAKS | Hari Malaysia commemorates the day when Sabah and Sarawak joined Malaya to form the Federation of Malaysia in 1963. It is a proud day for us all as we call ourselves Malaysians with a renewed sense of patriotism.

In celebrating this day, we hold dear in our hearts the struggles and success stories during the past decades, and historical milestones such as the Cobbold Commission and Malaysia Agreement which was inked on July 9, 1963 in London.

We remember each of our separate independence days - Aug 31, 1957 for Malaya, Aug 31, 1963 for Sabah, and July 22, 1963 for Sarawak.

We remember the Dayaks, Kadazans, Ibans and Muruts, and the colourful cultures that they infuse into our multicultural society. Without East Malaysia, Peninsular Malaysia would have been very different. We are all Malaysians.

Malaysia is a great country but if Malaysia is put in the hands of Pakatan Harapan, we will be even greater.

Just recently, the prime minister announced that women's programmes would be halted if there is no Goods and Services Tax (GST). Yet, our dear prime minister has just revealed to us that we have such a substantial amount to invest in the US.

We are, according to our prime minister, going to purchase Boeing planes from the US, an amount totalling between US$10 and US$20 billion, an additional investment of US$3 to US$4 billion from our Employees Provident Fund (EPF), and an increase of investments from our sovereign wealth fund, Khazanah Nasional.

We applaud our prime minister for being able to commit such a huge amount to the US, while we Malaysians have been made to believe that our economy depended on the revenues collected from GST.

All this while, we believed MAS to be facing financial troubles but now they have the means to purchase new airplanes. We know now for certain that Malaysia's finances are in good shape and its economy robust, so we demand again, on Malaysia Day, for the GST to be abolished.

Our great country has no need for the GST yet, as revealed by our prime minister, so much so that we have more than enough to even make America great.

Let us celebrate this day, Malaysia Day on Sept 16 to remind ourselves of our prime minister's highly successful visit to the White House and thank him for showing us that we no longer need the GST, nor for our women's programmes to be cancelled.

We also expect a higher budget than RM2.26 billion for the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry next year.

If Pakatan Harapan wins in the 14th general election, we will do away with the GST and lower petrol prices.

Happy Malaysia Day 2017.

ZURAIDA KAMARUDDIN is PKR Women’s chief, Pakatan Harapan Women’s chief, and Ampang MP.  

The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.