Guan Eng warns GST will be increased if BN wins GE

BUKIT MERTAJAM: Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng (pix) has warned the rakyat that the Goods and Services Tax (GST) will be increased if Barisan Nasional (BN) wins in the next general election.
Lim said if BN formed the federal government again, GST can be increased up to 8% or 10% in the next five years.
"The GST can be increased. This has been proven in other countries that have implemented GST, where the rate has increased.
"So it is important for us to abolish the GST implementation in the country," he said during his speech at a ceremony to hand over financial aid to students who qualified for the public higher learning institutions in the SP Arena here.
Lim also described the GST as a "vampire" creature, which needs to consume more blood to grow.
Therefore, he said the GST had been sucking the blood of Malaysians in the country.
Earlier in the ceremony, there were a total of 1,277 students in Seberang Perai, who received the financial aid.
Present were Deputy Chief Minister I Datuk Mohd Rashid Hasnon, Deputy Chief Minister II Prof Dr P. Ramasamy, Penang Youth and Sports, Women, Family and Community Development Committee chairman Chong Eng and state Works exco Lim Hock Seng.
In a press conference later, Rashid urged the Higher Education ministry to address claims that 33 private higher education institutions (IPTS) nationwide have been closed.
He said it was a serious issue as it had affected the students who were studying at the related IPTS.
"Some of the students had met with me to seek help as their colleges have closed down.
"So I hope the ministry manages the matter well and it should not affect the students," he said.
Rashid was commenting on Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh who said 33 IPTS had been closed nationwide in this year.