SST benefits the rich, burdens the poor, MCA tells Balakong voters

Gan Pei Ling Gan Pei Ling Updated 5 years ago · Published on 25 Aug 2018 8:38AM · 6 Comments

MCA candidate Tan Chee Teong greets a trader at Batu 11, Cheras, on the Balakang by-election campaign trail, yesterday night. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Kamal Ariffin, August 25, 2018.

THE sales and services tax (SST) benefits the wealthy and drains the low wage earners, MCA vice-president Chew Mei Fun told voters in Balakong, Selangor, last night.

“It’s unfair. Chicken, a food item consumed by ordinary people, will be taxed 10% but abalone, usually consumed by the rich, will be taxed 5%. 

“This (rate of taxation) benefits the rich but burdens the poor,” said Chew at a ceramah at 11th mile Cheras on the campaign trail of MCA’s Balakong by-election candidate, Tan Chee Teong.

Tan is taking on Pakatan Harapan’s Wong Siew Ki in the state by-election on September 8, an event brought about by the death of the assemblyman Ng Tien Chee, of DAP, in a car accident on July 20.

Tan had earlier issued similar criticism of PH for imposing a 10% tax on staples such as chicken and beef but a 5% tax on luxury or exotic fare such as bird’s nest, rabbit and camel meat.

The SST comes into force on September 1. Food outlets with annual revenue of less than RM1 million are exempted from the tax. 

During the 90-minute ceramah attended by a  small audience, Chew described PH as a “U-turn government” for fulfilling only two of the 10 promises it had pledged to fulfil in its first 100 days.

“Pakatan Harapan is a U-turn government. It blames the previous government for all the promises that it cannot fulfil. The common excuse is that it doesn’t have enough money. That’s why it cannot abolish toll, and lower petrol prices to RM1.50. It’s still RM2.20 today,” said the former deputy minister.

Chew’s aide, Saw Yee Fung, from the MCA School of Political Studies, said SST would hike up prices of goods.

“SST is ‘suka-suka tax’. When you wake up to brush your teeth, your toothbrush and toothpaste will be taxed. Your water tariff in Selangor will rise. When you leave the house, you will find that your Milo and parking are also taxed.

“If you go abroad for a holiday, you will also be taxed. When the SST starts on September 1, the prices will go up but our wages will not. 

“We are standing with the people. This government needs to be checked. We should unite against Pakatan Harapan on September 8,” said Saw.

Another speaker from the MCA School of Political Studies, Wong Kok Fye, said PH candidate Wong Siew Ki should step down to give MCA a walkover to realise the two-party system advocated by DAP.

The Balakong by-election is a straight fight between MCA, which will be contesting in an election under its own logo for the first time, and PH, which will be flying its newly approved logo. – August 25, 2018.
 

Sign up or sign in here to comment.

Comments

  • Fresh produce such as chicken is exempted la. What is MCA talking about?

    Posted 5 years ago by Gerald Lau · Reply

  • This Chew Mei Fun is simply talking rubbish. She think we Malaysians are stupid. LOL!

    Posted 5 years ago by Jordan Lee · Reply

  • Chew mei fun only knows how to jaga longkang...what she knows abt SST...

    Posted 5 years ago by Sweesing lee · Reply

  • Chew Mei Fun cannot even chow mai fun. How to believe her?? Longkang inspection is all she is good for

    Posted 5 years ago by Kenneth Tan · Reply

  • MCA suka GST, semua cukai habis kena rompak dah hilang....

    Posted 5 years ago by Jahat sangat · Reply

  • Pity MCA! Too late for them to be nice now. They are digging their graves.

    Posted 5 years ago by Leng Kapri As Saribasi · Reply