JUST READ!

---

Monkeying the Malay students Posted: 01 May 2014 06:37 AM PDT Street protests aimed at toppling the government run contrary to democracy practice, said former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad. He said the action also portrayed that those involved did not understand the parameters of freedom in expressing dissatisfaction. Many countries, especially new countries which are still familiarising with democratic practice, failed to develop and thrive due to misuse of democracy, he added. "In old democracies like in Europe or America, if people are dissatisfied with the government that was elected by the majority, they wait until the general election again to topple it. "That's why their countries are peaceful, quiet and well-developed," he told reporters after delivering a keynote address at the International Federation of Interior Architects/Designers XXVI General Assembly and REKA Congress 2014 here Thursday. He was commenting on the Anti-Goods and Service Tax (GST) rally in the capital today. Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim managed to turn the rally into an 'anti-government' protest. Instead of addressing them on the GST, Pakatan Rakyat took it as a platform to incite hatred against Putrajaya by urging them to bring down Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak. Accusing (still) the government of so many mishandling and wrongdoings, the opposition did not even use the rally to explain the pros and cons of GST, and also failed to address the crowd about its disadvantages. Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim warned Putrajaya today that the people are not afraid anymore and were willing to come out to show their unhappiness towards the government. Speaking to more than 20,000 people who came out to protest against the Goods and Services Tax (GST) and the rising cost of living, Anwar told the crowd: "we have God on our side, and we have the power of the people". "We have shocked the government with this rally. It is a clear message that the people are against the GST. The GST that only makes the Barisan cronies richer," Anwar said. The demonstration was held to coincide with International Labour Day. He said many people have told him and other Pakatan leaders of their daily suffering due to rising costs and their worry over the impending GST. The people, however, also used this occasion to criticise the government on other issues, particularly the missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370, which has put the country under global scrutiny. Earlier the people started arriving at the four meeting points – KLCC, Sogo, Dataran Maybank and Jalan Raja Laut – before moving towards Dataran Merdeka about 2pm. 'God on his side'? I don't think so because even God did not rescue him from the court's verdict! What's the point of organising such a big rally if Pakatan Rakyat failed to provide logical and tangible explanation as to why the GST will adversely affect the national economy? I wonder why must those who took part in the rally monkey themselves without adequate knowledge about what the GST is all about? And I share the same page with Deputy Finance Minister Ahmad Maslan's statement that, like it or not, the GST will come in stream by April 2015. Despite the anti-GST protests, which took place in Kuala Lumpur and Penang today, the government will go ahead with its implementation from next April, Deputy Finance Minister Datuk Ahmad Maslan said. Describing the protest rallies against the Goods and Services Tax (GST) as inappropriate, he said the rally organisers should use a better approach to voice their opinions. "They should have submitted a memorandum on the matter, this (the protests) only serves to politicise all the good things that the government wants to implement", he said, adding that the money collected ultimately benefits the people. The GST will be implemented at a fixed rate of 6%, replacing the existing sales and services tax. It will not be imposed on basic food items such as rice, sugar, salt, flour and cooking oil. Some of the other services exempted include government services such as issuance of passports and licences and healthcare services. Ahmad said the GST was not something new; in fact, 90% of the world's population lived in countries which had been practising the GST. The GST rates to be charged next year were also among the lowest in the world, he noted. Another thing - almost all who took part in the rally were undergraduates from various higher learning institutions, most of whom are under government's study loan. What would they become once they finished their study? Join the opposition or monkeying themselves to the opposition's drum beats? Our Malay students today!

You are subscribed to email updates from JUST READ! To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now.	Email delivery powered by Google
Google Inc., 20 West Kinzie, Chicago IL USA 60610

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Jom berjuang bersama rakan bloggers di Facebook!

Tunjukkan sokongan anda! Sila Like.