KUALA LUMPUR: Tun Daim Zainuddin’s U-turn with regard to his stand on the Goods and Services Tax (GST) is proof that the former Finance Minister is conspiring with Pakatan Harapan (PH) chairman Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
Barisan Nasional strategic communications (BNSC) deputy director Datuk Eric See-To, said Daim should know the benefits of implementing GST as he is a person who is well-versed in matters of finance and banking.
See-To opined that Daim's move to now criticize the GST is simply because he stands with Dr Mahathir despite it going against his logic and principles.
“Strangely, when the GST was implemented three years ago, he was amongst the supporters and said he wanted to implement GST when he was the Finance Minister.
“This forked-tongue style politics without regard for the nation's economy is unhealthy,” he said when contacted by the New Straits Times Press, here today.
Apart from helping the nation's economy, See-To said the GST also plays a role in reducing the outflow of capital funds through trade misconduct.
Speaking on a PKR stage in Pendang on May 1, Daim joked that the GST actually stood for 'Government Suka Tipu' (government loves to cheat).
However, in a one-minute video uploaded on YouTube in January 2015, Daim himself admitted to wanting to introduce the GST when he was the Finance Minister in 1984.
This, he said was because the country’s revenue contributed by Petronas was only 40 per cent and that amount was too small.
“Tomorrow if there is a problem in the country, where can we get money to spend?
“GST is a type of consumption tax and if the rakyat is not willing to contribute to it then they should consider reducing their daily spending,” he had said.
Daim, who had served as Finance Minister from 1984 to 1991, said the GST would provide a considerable tax relief.
“However the government at that time said we were not ready yet ... right after that, even Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim wanted to introduce the GST," Daim said.
He added that Anwar will not agree to GST anymore since he is currently with the Opposition, but reiterated that the former deputy prime minister had once supported the idea.