'I am not afraid of GST debates' - Ahmad Maslan
Astro Awani
May 1, 2015 15:00 MYT
May 1, 2015 15:00 MYT
Ahmad said he was also disappointed when his statements, especially those related to GST, were taken out of context by certain quarters.
Deputy Finance Minister Datuk Ahmad Maslan said although he is not afraid of debates on GST, he has to be careful of those who invite him for the debates for fear of spinning his statements later.
He said he had been invited to engage in a debate related to the new tax regime with PAS’s Datuk Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man in Rompin and by PKR’s Rafizi Ramli in Permatang Pauh.
“I am not afraid of debating with them. I only fear Allah,” he told Astro AWANI.
“I have already answered them in parliament but when we are at their stage, they will spin everything I say,” he added.
Ahmad said he was also disappointed when his statements, especially those related to GST, were taken out of context by certain quarters.
He said GST also affected his lifestyle even as a Minister and he is often ridiculed. But, he said, he realised that it is his responsibility to continue offer explanation to the people on the benefits of GST.
“Many of my statements were misunderstood and were spinned,” he said commenting on his statement calling for university students to cook their own meal.
“I said a thousand things, but what they had spinned was: Ahmad Maslan tells UiTM students to cook,” he said.
“What I had said was, it is cheaper to cook our own meals because the basic food items are GST exempted. I did not say, UiTM students, please cook your own meals, even in hostels. I did not say that,” he added.