Muhyiddin Criticises Govt S Robin Hood Charade

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Muhyiddin Yassin has torn the mask off the government's "Robin Hood" masquerade, revealing a seemingly sheriff of Nottingham-style tax raid that will leave the rakyat as financially stretched as mediaeval peasants.
The former prime minister accused Putrajaya of donning the legendary outlaw's green hood whilst also wielding the corrupt sheriff's tax collector's purse, in justifying the sales and service tax (SST) expansion.
Muhyiddin claimed that of the 8,094 items previously exempted from the SST, only 1,813 remain excluded after the broadening of the tax’s scope, set to come into effect on July 1.
“More than 90 percent of items are now subject to the SST. This includes basic necessities such as sugar, salt, fish, vegetables, and fruits. What exactly is the tax policy of the Madani government?” the Perikatan Nasional chairperson questioned in a statement today.
“The claim that this government only taxes the ultra-rich and redistributes it to the poor, like Robin Hood, is pure theatrics (and) clearly a lie.”
‘Unprecedented move for RM10b revenue’
Referencing the five percent service tax scheduled to be imposed on imported fruits such as apples, bananas and oranges, the Pagoh MP highlighted that such items are not “luxury foods” as they have long been staples of the common people.
“Bleeding ordinary citizens dry through unreasonable taxes just to increase government revenue by RM10 billion is unprecedented in any previous government.
“Where will this RM10 billion in revenue be spent? Why didn’t the government wait until the tabling of Budget 2026 in Parliament to debate the rationale of this (SST) expansion?” the Bersatu president pressed.
PM Anwar IbrahimPreviously, Prime Minister and Finance Minister Anwar Ibrahim said broadening the tax base is needed to help the government fund public projects.
He also defended Putrajaya’s move to impose the tax on imported fruits, arguing that the move aims to tax the wealthy.
ADS‘Like a leech sucking the people dry’
Muhyiddin lamented that despite the rakyat already struggling with the removal of diesel subsidies and a higher SST rate introduced last year, their burdens are now expected to double with the proposed electricity tariff hikes and targeted subsidies for RON95 fuel.
“Although (the SST expansion and subsidy removals) are said to be targeted, the impact of rising prices and cost of living will be felt by the entire population. The compounded effects will be painful for the lower and middle classes, who make up 85 percent of Malaysia’s population,” he said.
“This is a sign the government has failed to manage the economy properly. When the economy is mismanaged, national revenue declines.
“In such a situation, the government begins to act like a leech sucking the people dry through endless taxes while removing subsidies. This is not the mark of a competent or caring government,” he added.
He also called on the government to revisit the possibility of implementing a goods and services Tax (GST) at a reasonable, non-burdensome rate after holding proper engagements with all relevant stakeholders.
“I am convinced that the form of SST implemented by this government has a worse impact on the people and the economy than the previous GST policy.
“The government’s duty is to lighten the people’s burden, not add to it. If it cannot fulfil even this most basic responsibility, then the Madani government has failed and deserves to be rejected by the people,” Muhyiddin said. - Mkini

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