PUTRAJAYA’S shock move to impose GST on more than 60 food items is like sneaking in while the people are distracted by big scandals in the country, Rafizi Ramli said today.

The Pandan MP said in a statement that Prime Minister Najib Razak must cancel the plan,  which is said  to take effect on July 1, as food items like vegetables and noodles are staple food items for Malaysians 

“Collecting GST from basic food items will make inflation soar and burden the lower-income group. This will only worsen the problem of rising prices  of goods that is already bad,” he said in a statement today. 

The Star Online today reported that among the new items that will be levied with the 6% GST include imported fruits like avocados, figs, grapes, nectarines, cherries and berries but also local vegetables such as potatoes, long beans, peas, spinach and sweet corn.  

Other items include bihun, kuey teow, laksa mee and coconut oil, it said. 

“Although some of the food items are imported fruits and vegetables, there are also many basic food items used by majority of Malaysians,” Rafizi said. 

He said Najib’s government had reneged on its promise that food items would not taxed when the GST was implemented in 2015.

“This discreet imposition of GST on food items, while the people are focused on large scandals in the country is dishonest,” Rafizi said, adding that it was as if the government was taking advantage of people giving their attention to the 1Malaysia Development Bhd scandal.

He warned Najib that imposing GST will stoke people’s anger.

“Imposing GST on food will attract more people to Pakatan Harapan’s explanation sessions on this issue,” he said.

Customs Department director-general Subromaniam Tholasy said a full statement listing the specific food items would be issued today. –  June 19, 2017.