Kota Kinabalu: The people of Sabah and Sarawak should be exempted from the Goods and Services Tax (GST) that appears imminent to be implemented by the Federal Government, said Star Sabah Chief Datuk Dr Jeffrey Kitingan."Foremost, the Prime Minister needs to practise what he says and start implementing his transparency programmes by stop 'testing the people' by using mouthpieces for feedback on the intended GST implementation.
"The Barisan Nasional (BN) government should stop beating around the bush and just plainly say it needs to raise another RM27 billion from GST, which is equivalent to about RM1,000 per person per year, to cover the ballooning national debt which has been increased partly by the various 'Santa Clause' programmes to fish for votes in the recent general election.
"The BN government should not treat the people as fools anymore.
The people can understand the need to increase revenue to cover the national debt, but whether the need to tax and burden the people is another matter altogether.
"The Government should pay attention to reduction of economic leakages and to wipe out corruption which is probably the biggest cause for any unjustified increase in the national debt," he said in a statement here, Sunday.
Dr Jeffrey said that as for the GST itself, the Federal Government should exempt Sabah and Sarawak from its implementation.
"The GST will burden Sabahans and Sarawakians who are already poor.
Sabah and Sarawak are more than justified in being exempted from the GST implementation," he said.
Firstly, Sabah and Sarawak, both with riches and wealth, have been robbed and now suffering from being made the two poorest states in Malaysia, he claimed.
In 2012, RM17.88 billion in oil revenue was siphoned by Petronas from Sabah and another RM35 billion from Sarawak. Sabah lost another RM24 billion in federal taxes and revenues collected from the State.
Secondly, he said the crippling Cabotage policy was not only increasing the living costs of Sabahans but stifling Sabah's economy and making Sabah an uncompetitive investment destination. It also deprived youths of further job opportunities.
"If the Prime Minister is serious with his 'Rakyat DiDahulukan' slogan, he should immediately abolish the Cabotage policy. There is no two-way with it.
"Yet, the Federal and State governments are deaf to the pleas of the people to have the Cabotage policy abolished.
Thirdly, rural Sabahans and Sarawakians have low household incomes and this is even made worse by the Federal Government's minimum salary level which has fixed a lower minimum of RM900 for Sabah and Sarawak and discriminates against them compared to West Malaysians with a threshold level of RM1,000.
Last but not the least, instead of imposing the GST on Sabah and Sarawak, the Prime Minister should stop the marginalisation of Sabahans and Sarawakians and implement programmes in both states to increase the income levels and improve their livelihoods, consistent with his "Rakyat DiDahulukan" slogan.
Sarawak from the GST implementation, he should be wary of the consequences of being the last Umno Prime Minister.
"The people in Sabah and Sarawak have awakened to the concept of Sabah and Sarawak being the kingmakers and can topple the BN Federal Government at any time.
"This 'kingmaker' role and leverage can be seen in the increased composition of Sabah and Sarawak lawmakers in the new Cabinet and demands for more.
"I will personally be meeting further with Sabah and Sarawak leaders and work on bringing this kingmaker role to the next level.
We need to work towards the restoration of our rights and autonomy if it means toppling the current BN regime," he said.
