GST Corrects Imbalance In Wealth Distribution - Idris

Melaka Chief Minister Datuk Seri Idris Haron said the Goods and Services Tax (GST) will remedy the situation whereby the rich becomes richer and the poor becomes poorer.

He said the current sales and services tax had room that could be manipulated by certain quarters, causing losses to the nation and people.

"There is no room in the GST for those who normally avoid paying taxes. GST will also uplift the poor who needs to be defended," he said at the Melaka State Assembly here, today.

He said this when replying a supplementary question from Tey Kok Kiew (DAP-Banda Hilir) on the gap between the poor and the rich which must be considered by the government before implementing GST.

He said the gap differentiating between the poor and the rich in the country was becoming narrower to simultaneously enable GST to be implemented on April 1, 2015.

"Melaka is a good example of a state whose people have almost balanced incomes," he said.

In the meantime, replying to a question from Datuk Norpipah Abdol (BN-Rembia) on the effort to explain GST in Melaka, Idris said 55 programmes had been carried out by State Government and federal agencies from January until today.