Former finance minister Daim Zainuddin has criticised Putrajaya's decision to grant GST relief to the China Communications Construction Company (CCCC) with regard to the East Coast Rail Line (ECRL) project.
Daim also criticised the justification given by the government, which was to reduce the cost of the ECRL project which was commissioned by Putrajaya.
"What is the reason? To reduce cost. Then the people will ask, what about my cost? I am also suffering," Daim was quoted as saying by Free Malaysia Today after a forum in Langkawi today.
Daim said the move gave the impression that the government did not care about the people who have had to cope with the rising cost of living as a result of the GST.
"The people are asking: ‘Why am I paying GST? I am paying, but the government does not seem to care'.
"The government just says: ‘Oh, you must pay’. But these people (foreign firms) are business people. They will make money anyway. But you still waive the GST for them,” he was quoted as saying.
The government is financing the approximately RM60 billion project through a soft loan from the Export-Import Bank of China and debt raised in the bond market.
Around 600km in length, the ECRL will link up Port Klang with key cities on the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia including Kuantan, Kota Bharu and Kuala Terengganu. - Mkini
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.