Daim: I once proposed to introduce GST, but ...

MUAR: Former cabinet minister Tun Daim Zainuddin admitted that he had once proposed to introduce the Goods and Services Tax (GST) when he was in the government.
Daim, who was the former finance minister during Tun Mahathir's premiership, however stressed that his proposal at that time was meant to help the rakyat instead of burdening them.
He added that his idea to introduced GST was made after Malaysia had suffered financially due to an economic recession.
"In 1986, I had suggested in parliament to introduce GST as we had no money due to the recession," he said, during a dialogue session at Parit Yusof here.
"Our intention was not to burden the rakyat. Our intention was that GST would return the money back to the people."
He was responding to a comment made by Umno Supreme Council member Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed on Friday, who said that Daim already had GST in mind when he was in the government.
Mustapa, who is also the caretaker Minister of International Trade and Industry, added that the government at that time lacked the courage to implement it.
Dismissing the notion, Daim said Mustapa should have known the situation better as the latter had once worked under him.
Daim stressed that his version of GST was different from the one currently being implemented under the government of caretaker Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak.
He added the current GST was the main reason for the increase in the price of goods.
Daim also stated that a man of his age should be resting at home, instead of going out and campaigning against the government.
However, the 80-year-old said that he was forced to voice his opinions as he thinks the government of the day does not care about the condition of the rakyat.