DJ Cage (nee KJ nee Khairy Jamaluddin) praising PMX Anwar Ibrahim for stabilising the economy suddenly became controversial, as if every compliment automatically means someone is trying to kiss ass. Relax lah.
Before people start screaming “bootlicker”, let’s look at reality first.
Petrol prices in Malaysia are still among the cheapest in the region compared to neighbouring countries. Singapore, Thailand and Indonesia are all paying higher rates at the pump since Trump's stupid war on Iran.
Tourism is doing well,too. While International tourists are avoiding the USA, middle east and even Europe, they are flocking to our beaches, hills, golf courses. Soon they will come to KL for our own version of "songkran" or water festival!
And then there’s KJ’s point about GST.
That is not “kissing ass”. That is somebody telling the Prime Minister that leadership is not about trying to be popular 24/7.
GST was going to generate at least RM40 billion in additional revenue annually — money that many filthy rich businessmen previously escaped paying under weaker and inefficient tax systems - until it was halted because of somebody's election promises. The reality is simple: broad-based taxation systems are harder to evade.
Only people like Murray Hunter (who has shown no love for Malaysia except for the disgruntled who pay him to write) want us to believe that GST would hurt the poor!
The fact is, around 180countries in the world already implement GST or VAT systems in one form or another. Australia has it. Thailand has it too. Ironically, Murray Hunter is Australian and has been living in Thailand for years after losing his teaching job in Malaysia.
So if GST is supposedly such a disaster, why are most functioning economies in the world still using it?
I hope KJ keeps pushing the GST discussion seriously. And I hope his Umno colleagues, especially MITI Minister Johari Ghani has long been one of the strongest advocates for GST, will lend him support. And honestly, Johari does not strike me as the kind of politician who needs to kiss anybody’s ass either.
Steady, KJ!
PS And I hope we have not seen the last of DJ Cage at our night spots. Perhaps at KL's next Water Festival?
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