PKR secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution is far from pleased with the Islamic Development Department of Malaysia (Jakim) for its sermon last Friday urging Muslims to accept the controversial goods and services tax (GST).
Ironically, Saifuddin said, the text of the same sermon had also urged Muslims not to get into debt.
The government's justification for bringing in GST from next April is based on the need to clear its huge debt to GDP, which stands at 48 percent.
"The Friday sermon is not only for the rakyat but for leaders too...
"Jakim only tells the rakyat not to get into debt but it is (Prime Minister) Najib Abdul Razak who is accumulating all the debt for the country," Saifuddin told a press conference at the PKR headquarters in Petaling Jaya this afternoon.
He claimed that the total debt accumulated by all five previous prime ministers was almost the same as the amount accumulated under Najib's administration alone.
"This means Najib's fiscal discipline is very poor. Yet, Jakim totally ignored this aspect," Saifuddin said.
Saifuddin said Jakim did not appear to be aware about the realities about GST but was eager to back the government.
He pointed out that only 2 million of the 12 million work force in the country were paying income tax at present as many had too low wages to be taxed, but GST would affect everyone.
He added that Jakim should instead take note of the leakages highlighted in the recent Auditor-General’s Report 2013.
“Jakim should not only be telling the rakyat what to do... it should also have the courage to criticise the government,” he said.
Ironically, Saifuddin said, the text of the same sermon had also urged Muslims not to get into debt.
The government's justification for bringing in GST from next April is based on the need to clear its huge debt to GDP, which stands at 48 percent.
"The Friday sermon is not only for the rakyat but for leaders too...
"Jakim only tells the rakyat not to get into debt but it is (Prime Minister) Najib Abdul Razak who is accumulating all the debt for the country," Saifuddin told a press conference at the PKR headquarters in Petaling Jaya this afternoon.
He claimed that the total debt accumulated by all five previous prime ministers was almost the same as the amount accumulated under Najib's administration alone.
"This means Najib's fiscal discipline is very poor. Yet, Jakim totally ignored this aspect," Saifuddin said.
Saifuddin said Jakim did not appear to be aware about the realities about GST but was eager to back the government.
He pointed out that only 2 million of the 12 million work force in the country were paying income tax at present as many had too low wages to be taxed, but GST would affect everyone.
He added that Jakim should instead take note of the leakages highlighted in the recent Auditor-General’s Report 2013.
“Jakim should not only be telling the rakyat what to do... it should also have the courage to criticise the government,” he said.
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