MCA Wanita chief Heng Sei Kie should apologise for playing the race card on GST issue as well as making unacceptable comments that the Chinese community have no reason whatsoever to object to GST implementation.
She should not try to find the excuse that her words were taken out of context as the recoding available on the social media have shown very clearly what she had said.
She should also not try to mislead the people by saying that the Chinapress Daily which has carried the report about what she had said has retracted its report.
Yesterday, Malaysiakini has reported the following:-
“ When contacted for clarification, Heng said her comments should be taken in context of the whole 21-minute interview she gave to the China Press.
“If you listen to it as a whole, you will know that when the beginning and end of the interview are put together, the meaning is not as such (as reported by China Press).
“What was my original meaning? I think you should listen to it, then you will know why and what I said,” Heng told Malaysiakini.
In the impromptu China Press interview, Heng had spoken at length about GST. The controversial bits came at the end and lasted for around two minutes.
Heng said it was “more than enough” that China Press had already retracted its report and if the public or opposition supporters were unconvinced, then it was up to them.”
The fact is that Chinapress Daily dated April 30 did carry a newsreport which Heng claimed did not accurately reflect her intent. The newspaper then on May 1 carried a corrected report which is a basis of my yesterday’s statement and which is clearly based on the recording.
So Chinapress Daily only corrected its April 30 report and the May 1 report still stands and till today Heng has not denied the contents of the report which comprised the following:-
1. GST is absolutely good for the Chinese community because it is a tax system where everyone pays, and the government no longer places the taxpaying responsibility on the Chinese community only
2. Chinese community should not oppose GST because Chinese have the highest income in the nation and 90% of the nation’s tax revenue comes from them, and with GST all who spend will be required to pay
MCA President Dato Seri Liow Tiong Lai should state if he agrees with Heng’s racial approach to the GST issue. He should also state if he agrees with Heng that the Chinese community have no reason whatsoever to oppose the GST.
I wish to reiterate that it is irresponsible for Heng and BN politicians to racialise the GST issue.
GST affects all Malaysians and anyone who is unhappy with and affected by GST has every right and reason to oppose the regressive tax.