Manifesto Pakatan Harapan (PH) pledges to scrap GST, PTPTN debts - Kavinmullai Naguchete

Five years ago, the DAP and PKR pledged in their manifesto to abolish the loan from the National Higher Education Fund Corporation (PTPTN) for wanting to provide free higher education for all public university students. However, DAP and PKR supporters' aspirations for repeal of PTPTN's repatriation have not been achieved because of its power, however, the populist pledge was dropped in the 14th General Election (GE-14) manifesto. The 14^th General Election manifesto (GE-14) of the Pakatan Harapan (PH) does not offer the repeal of the debt of the National Higher Education Fund Corporation (PTPTN) as promised in the GE-13. On the other hand, the PH manifesto this time to continue with the PTPTN but the repayment period for the borrowers is extended until they reach a monthly income of RM4000 per month. ‘If they are going to implement such plan, it should be properly executed because you cannot expect fresh graduates to earn that much of salary at their beginning stage of working. If this happens, it will be beneficial for the students as it will reduce their financial burden’, said a student of a state government university. However, if the loan repeal proposal is implemented, it will affect the financial position of PTPTN and will negatively affect many young people who wish to pursue further education. The flexibility proposed by Pakatan Harapan has already been implemented by the government as PTPTN has given a lender to the borrower who has trouble paying. The assurance is consists of ten things PH will take within 100 days if it won the GE-14 announced at the 14^th General Election Manifesto Launching. Other promises to be implemented within 100 days are to eliminate Goods and Services Tax (GST) and to control rising prices for basic goods; reintroducing petrol subsidies on a targeted basis as well as identifying FELDA settlers' debt that can be repealed. Pakatan Harapan wants to abolish GST and replace the old SST. Does Pakatan Harapan know what impact it has on the Malaysian economy? Now GST can give the government a revenue of RM44 billion (2017) but to vote for PRU14 Pakatan Harapan to abolish the GST with the old SST that only gives 1/4 billion to the government. Pakatan Harapan said they have taken the views of various academic members, civil society, economists, professionals and former civil servants and continue to say "our manifesto is practical and can be implemented to improve and build Malaysia". Pakatan Harapan must think for a moment whether the Malaysian economy is only dependent on oil palm exports and others. What will happen if our oil and commodities prices fall? The abolition of GST would increase the country’s debt. There are various percentages but in Malaysia we are only charged with six percent which is a more reasonable rate which also not burdensome economy and people. So it will be a controversial situation where some will agree and some will disagree with this plan of eliminating GST. As for me, it should be continued so that our country would not struggle in debt and the economy will be maintained.  If the country did not collect revenue, the government could not implement national programmes. As the Malaysian economy grows, the revenue will increase and the country can bear the expenditure. If we forgo the GST, then we will lose RM45 billion and even if we were to re-introduce the sales and service tax (SST), the collection will amount to RM18 billion, so how can we find the other RM27 billion?