FORMER prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad was the main attraction for the 3,000 to 4,000 people who packed the road in front of the Taiping Golf and Country Club last night.

The mixed crowd told The Malaysian Insight they hope Pakatan Harapan will abolish the goods and services tax (GST) if they win the 14th general election.

Retired civil servant Razali Din, 65, said his quality of life has declined since the introduction of the GST in April 2015.

“During Dr Mahathir’s era, although I’m not rich, I could live comfortably because the cost of living was low. Now everything is expensive.

“I hope Pakatan Harapan can rule the country and change the situation,” said the former Public Works Department employee from Taiping.

A Taiping businessman, who only wants to be identified as Lim, said his business, too, has suffered because of the GST.

“I believe in Dr Mahathir’s promise because during his time, Malaysia’s economy was better and there was no GST.

“I’m earning less because of GST. I hope the new Pakatan Harapan government can abolish GST,” said Lim.

PH deputy president Lim Guan Eng reassured the audience during his speech that PH will abolish the GST and maintain the 1Malaysia People’s Aid (BR1M) for low-income families and individuals.

“As long as the government is clean, there will be enough money. Penang and Selangor have proven that a clean government can contribute back more to the people,” he said.

The Penang chief minister also took a dig at the Barisan Nasional government for collecting more than RM40 billion in GST but only returning RM7 billion to the people in BR1M last year.

“Don’t miss this opportunity to switch to a prime minister who can really help the people,” he said, referring to PH prime minister candidate Dr Mahathir.

A 28-year-old freelance tutor, who only wants to be known as Seri, said she came to the ceramah with her husband just to listen to Dr Mahathir.

“My husband and I studied in Egypt, when we tell people we’re from Malaysia, they will mention Tun (Mahathir). He is an icon,” said the first-time voter and self-declared fence-sitter in Taiping.

The mother of two said she believes Dr Mahathir is still campaigning at the age of 92 because he is genuinely worried for Malaysia’s future.

She said she will vote for Pakatan Harapan if it produces a proper manifesto.

“We have stayed in Selangor and enjoyed the benefits provided by the Pakatan Rakyat government. Water is free. There was free bus in Sg Buloh and RM1,500 for newborns,” she said. – March 4, 2018.