Ahmad Maslan denies given instruction to 'lie low' on GST

Deputy Finance Minister Datuk Ahmad Maslan denied that he warnings from the top leaders of UMNO to stop talking about the Goods and Services Tax (GST) during the campaign week for the Rompin and Permatang Pauh by-elections.

According to The Malaysian Insider, Ahmad Maslan said no such instruction was given to him by any party leadership.

"I was not asked by the leadership to stop talking about the tax. If I stop talk about the GST, then it means the opposition has won," he said when met by reporters at the the Ministry of Communications and Multimedia press centre in Permatang Pauh on Wednesday.

Astro AWANI previously reported that the UMNO information chief has been warned not to over-emphasize the GST issue during the Rompin and Permatang Pauh by-elections campaign week.

An UMNO source revealed Ahmad Maslan had also been ‘told’ not to highlight GST issues especially in Rompin fearing a backlash after making a series of scathing remarks on the taxation system.

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“Several top-notch UMNO leaders have warned Ahmad Maslan for coming out a tad too vocal on issues pertaining to GST. This may lead to us clinching reduced majority in Rompin which will result in the failure to win the Permatang Pauh by-election,” he said.

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“His intentions are good but his statements are often being manipulated by the Opposition until many issues had cropped up which would affect the party,” the source revealed.