GE14 | The battle for Lembah Pantai is in its less affluent parts, and last night Pakatan Harapan rallied voters there, employing a variety of ways to criticise the goods and services tax (GST).

The rally was held at a futsal court surrounded by people’s housing programme (PPR) flats in Kerinchi, and many of the 1,500 people present were locals who had come down from their units with their families to check out the event.

Harapan chairperson Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s opening speech drew the crowd and set a decidedly anti-Najib Razak, anti-BN and anti-GST tone for the night.

This tone was further expounded by activist Hishamuddin Rais and various politicians, along with two unexpected guests - cartoonist Zunar and veteran actor-comedian Usop Wilcha.

Zunar, whose real name Zulkiflee Anwar ul-Haque, metaphorically described the GST as a burden borne by the people.

“People, they want to give you zero GST, why would you be so silly to take on six percent GST? Don’t be so silly, Harapan has promised zero GST.

“It is like you are now carrying a rock of six kilogrammes, and you have two choices - to throw away that rock or to continue carrying it.

“It’s easy, take the rock and throw it away! Your life will be easier, GST is a burden to us.

“This is not about party politics or anti-BN politics, but this is about our daily lives,” Zunar (photo) pleaded to the gathering.

One of Harapan's main campaign promises for the 14th general election has been to abolish the wide-based GST within 100 days of forming the government.

Surrounded by upmarket neighbourhoods such as Bangsar and Midvalley City, PPR Kerinchi is home to those often characterised as the “urban poor”. They face deep income disparity compared with other urban dwellers and are perhaps most hard hit by the tax.

Supporting BN is supporting GST

Usop, known formally as Syed Mohamad Asri, entertained the crowd with many anecdotes and said the GST was akin to the government charging the rakyat for its services.

“At this point in the election is when parties offer their proposals to us. One is saying, ‘let us lead, we will only charge you six percent’ while another one only talks about polygamy all the time.

“Then there is another one that is charging you nothing.

“So when you make your choice, do you choose GST, polygamy or one that will abolish GST and restore the country’s economy?” Usop said, referring to BN, PAS and Harapan respectively.

The night’s rally was organised to endorse Harapan-PKR’s Lembah Pantai candidate Fahmi Fadzil.

Fahmi posed to the crowd that by supporting his opponent, BN-Umno’s Raja Nong Chik Raja Zainal Abidin, they would be supporting the tax.

"Raja Nong Chik wants to defend the GST, I want to abolish the GST," he said.

Aside from Raja Nong Chik, Fahmi also faces PAS’ first-time contender Fauzi Abu Bakar in the polls.

Malaysia goes to the vote on May 9.