YB admits Shafie supported implementation of GST

Kota Kinabalu: Sulabayan Assemblyman Jaujan Sambakong said it is true that when he was still a Federal minister, Parti Warisan Sabah President Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal used to support the implementation of the Goods and Services Tax (GST).However, he said, it was because within the Federal Cabinet, there was a collective system that must be adhered to.

Besides, he said, during the time, all ministers were given a glowing picture of the benefits of GST, such as a more efficient tax collecting system and more importantly, that many necessary items would be a lot cheaper.

"So Shafie was confident that the people will not suffer because prices would be cheaper.

Unfortunately, when GST was finally implemented, as we can see today, everything became more expensive.

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"The people are angry. They complained. Everywhere he goes, people will come up to him and complain, so he realised that the system is hurting the people," he said.

Jaujan said it is also funny that while Shafie was still in the Cabinet, he was hailed as the best minister ever.

"But now that he is an opposition, we hear all kinds of insults. That he's a pirate, or this and that.

As leaders, we should be more mature," he said.

Towards this end, Jaujan said his experience these past three years showed that there is a tendency in the State Assembly by those in government to treat those in the opposition unfairly.

"The opposition are not allowed to use certain words like 'stupid', 'liar' or things like that.

But when the role is reversed, no action or warning is given to the assemblyman," he said.

Jaujan said if such thing continued, he worried for the State Assembly's position, and worse, how the people would view the institution itself.

This institution, he added should remain free as it is the highest institution in the State; one that is responsible for formulating policies that would affect the State and its people.

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Furthermore, he reminded the government that the harmony of the House must be maintained at all times as it does not belong to the government or BN but to the people of Sabah.

"The way I look at it, they have misused their power in the State Assembly. The House has its own set of rules and discipline that must be adhered to. Don't let the people lose their faith in the House," he added. - Tracy Patrick

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