Protest demo against GST put off (Mkini)

The Protes coalition of activist groups and opposition parties against the Goods and Services Tax (GST) bill announced today that the demonstration planned for tomorrow at Parliament has been cancelled.

Protes said this follows Second Finance Minister Ahmad Husni Hanadzlah's announcement that the bill, scheduled for second reading on Monday when Parliament reconvenes, has been postponed to enable the government to get more public feedback on the contentious tax.

The coalition yesterday declared a preliminary victory over Husni's announcement, describing it as a vindication of the coalition's public campaign against the GST, which they said would burden lower-income earners.

Speaking at a press conference this morning at PAS' headquarters in Kuala Lumpur, Dr Hatta Ramli (second from left) - who is chairperson of Protes and PAS treasurer-general - said the postponement of the demonstration showed the coalition is "reasonable."

The decision to put off the event to a yet undetermined date is due to "current developments", Hatta said further. He stressed, however, that Protes' efforts to campaign against the GST in the form of roadshows and other events would continue.

It was reported yesterday that Husni said the GST "will not be tabled for second reading in the March/April session (of Parliament) because we need more time to engage with the public."

The bill was first tabled in Parliament last December.

On when the bill would be tabled, Husni said: "It will depend on our engagement with the public and how the rakyat perceives the implementation of GST. So, we do not want to put a time-frame on that."

Also at the press conference today were Parti Sosialis Malaysia's (PSM) secretery-general S Arutchelvan, Y Kohila of the grassroots Network of Oppressed Peoples (Jerit) movement, Federal Territory PAS Youth chief Kamaruzaman Mohamed and PAS Muslimat secretary Aiman Atirah Al-Jundi.

Protes had planned to gather 2,000 activists and supporters to Parliament tomorrow to protest against the GST.

The event had led Kuala Lumpur police chief Muhammad Sabtu Othman to issue a warning against the demonstrators.