Statement on GST abolition is fake - Lim Guan Eng 
GEORGE TOWN, May 14 (Bernama) -- The Finance Ministry has denied issuing any media statement on the abolition of Goods and Services Tax (GST) effective June 1 that went viral on social media today and it was fake, said Lim Guan Eng, who has been named as the Finance Minister in the Pakatan Harapan (PH) government.
Lim said no one from the ministry could issue any statement including the issue of the abolition of GST as he had yet to be sworn in as Finance Minister.
"It's not true because I can't issue any directives as I have not been sworn in yet and presently only Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad can issue statements and directives.
"I have contacted the prime minister and he has confirmed that no such directive issued by his side so the statement is fake and untrue," he told a media conference here today.
In the press statement allegedly issued by the Finance Ministry that went viral on social media today, the federal government declared the abolition of the GST with immediate effect on June 1 following the victory of the PH in the 14th General Election (GE14).
The fake statement also stated that the abolition of GST was a gift in conjunction with Hari Raya Aidilfitri to the Malaysians who have given the victory to the PH in the general election to form a new government.
However, Lim said, the federal government would continue with its plans to abolish the GST and it would be implemented within 100 days.
"It is true that we will abolish the GST but because we have yet to be sworn in and have no legal power, so it can't be implemented yet, but it will be done within 100 days as promised in the PH manifesto," he said.
-- BERNAMA
