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Did Johari sign the Goods and Services Tax (zero-rate supply amendment No.2) Order 2017 without understanding what he is signing? If so, do we have a puppet finance minister who will sign whatever order put on his table?

I find it astonishing and shocking that Second Finance Minister Johari Abdul Ghani told off the customs department that they cannot impose GST on items without the approval from the cabinet.

Johari is quoted saying the below by a bernama news report,

“The items are not supposed to be subject to GST at the moment. I have to tell it to the Customs authorities that each item to be subjected to the GST should be brought to the level of the Ministry of Finance and we will bring it to the cabinet.


“It (Customs department) cannot impose (GST) without the approval of the cabinet,”

Under the GST Act 2014 Section 17(4), only the minister has the power, by order published in the gazette to determine which goods are zero-rated.

The Goods and Services Tax (zero-rate supply amendment No.2) Order 2017 which was gazetted on the 2 June and will come into effect on 1 July 2017 was signed off by none other than Johari himself.

Did Johari sign the GST zero-rate supply amendment order without understanding what he is signing? If so, do we have a puppet finance minister who will sign whatever order being put on his table?

Or, is Johari trying to put the blame on the customs department after the decision to collect GST on necessity items such as vegetables, fruits and noodles earn the wrath of netizens?

There must be a due process before deleting items from the zero-rate supply order. The government must first seek public consultation especially from the business and consumer groups which will be directly affected.

I urged Johari himself to clear the air and explain how the zero-rate supply amendment No.2 order fiasco can happen since he is the one who signed off the order!

Media Statement by Chong Zhemin DAP Perak Economic Development Bureau Chief and Political Secretary to MP Taping on the 20th June 2017

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Has Putrajaya been quietly collecting hidden fuel tax which has cause inflation to be the highest in eight years. Call for Putrajaya to reveal and make public the formula and calculation for the weekly fuel price.

Malaysians are shocked to find out that this week fuel price will see its third consecutive increase. RON 95 has been hike 3 cents and RON 97 will go up 2 cents.

The world crude oil price in the past week has go down by a dollar and the Ringgit has strengthened marginally against the dollar. The government must explain on what basis it has hike the fuel price once again.

According to a report by Reuters, March inflation has hit an eight-year high at 5.1%. Has Putrajaya been quietly collecting hidden fuel tax which has cause the inflation to shoot up in recent months?

When Putrajaya abolish the fuel subsidy in November 2014, RON 95 was retailing at RM2.27. The price for RON 95 has gone down since then due to the fall in world crude oil price.

When Government implemented GST in April 2015, RON 95 was priced at RM1.90 per litre, which is lower compare to today’s price. It is not a surprise that Inflation in March has shoot up to 5.1% since the price of RON 95 has gone up to the price of pre abolishment of fuel subsidy and GST has been implemented now.

Government has collected an additional RM 18 Billion under GST compare to SST. The government has also saved an estimated RM20 Billion annually since the abolishment of fuel subsidy.

Malaysians have to bear the burden of this total of RM 38 Billion in tax collection and subsidy saving by the government.

I call on Putrajaya be transparent and immediately release the formula and calculation for the weekly fuel price to prove that it has not been quietly collecting hidden fuel tax from the rakyat.

Media Statement by Chong Zhemin, DAP Perak Economic Developement Bureau Chief and Political Secretary to Taiping MP on 19 April 2017

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Najib must explain why the double broadband speed for the same price announced at budget 2017 is only valid for broadband package signed before 28 February. Call for government to upgrade all broadband package with double speed automatically and permanently.

When Najib tabled budget 2017 in parliament last October, he promised Malaysians that starting from Jan 2017, telco companies would upgrade all broadband package with double speed at the current price.

Najib announcement in budget is not only misleading but also deceiving. We have earlier exposed that the “Thank You Surprise” campaign rolled out by TM in January to double the broadband speed is only valid for home users but not commercial users.

We were also told by TM that the double broadband speed upgrade is only valid for customers who signed up their broadband package before 28 February 2017. In other words, current home users who wish to sign up a new unifi package will not get the free double speed upgrade.

TM staff has confirmed with us that the current unifi packages are, 30 Mbps at RM199 per month, 50Mbps at RM249 per month and 100Mbps at RM329 per month, which is the same package before the free speed upgrade.

The current package price is not only more expensive but also slower than the previous package offered. Users who signed up before 28 February 2017 just need to pay RM179 for the 30 Mbps package and would be offered free speed upgrade to 50 Mbps.

We urge Najib to explain why the free broadband speed upgrade could not be made permanent but just for a limited time period.

We have also received complaints from certain Streamyx users where their old package were not valid for the free speed upgrade. These users who have signed their broadband package quite some time back paid RM60 per month for 500kbps. However, TM refused to provide them with the free speed upgrade giving the excuse that they are on an old package not offered by TM anymore.

Malaysians are already paying very expensive monthly fees for the same broadband speed compared to our neighbouring countries due to TM monopoly in the industry. We urge the government to immediately fulfil their promise in budget 2017 to upgrade all broadband package (home and commercial) automatically and permanently.

Joint Media Statement by YB Ong Boon Piow SA for Tebing Tinggi, YB Teh Hock Ke SA for Jelapang and Chong Zhemin DAP Perak Publicity Bureau Chief on 19 April 2017.

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The new import steel tax will cause property prices to increase, further side-lining the people who already could not afford a house. Call for Putrajaya to provide tax rebate or subsidy to local steel players instead of imposing import duty.

We strongly condemned the government’s move to impose new taxes on imported steel products. This new tax will increase the domestic construction costs and thus lead to higher property prices.
Finance Minister II Johari Abdul Ghani earlier said new taxes on imported steel products were meant to protect the local steel industry. If the Government’s intention is to protect the local steel industry, the government should provide the local steel industry with tax rebates or subsidy, there is no need to impose a new import tax on steel products.

The move to provide local steel players with tax rebate or subsidy will not only ensure that the local manufactured steel is able to maintain at a competitive price, it can also prevent the property prices to continue climbing, killing two birds with one stone.

Property developers will definitely not absorb this newly imposed import duty and pass on the cost increase to property buyers. Ultimately, it will be the property purchasers who will foot the bill for the steel import duty. We call on the government to put a stop to this potential property price hike and withdraw the steel import tax with immediate effect.

In the third pledge of BN last General Election manifesto, BN had promised to provide affordable and secure housing. The imposition of new import duty on steel shows that BN has betrayed its election manifesto and the people’s trust.

The Malaysian Real Estate Development Association had earlier revealed that the real estate industry in Perak has been stagnant in the past six months. On average, the property sales rate does not exceed 30%; some developers has not sold even a single house recording zero sales.

The government’s new steel import tax will make the current stagnant property market worse and house ownership even more difficult for young people hunting for their first home.

Joint Media Statement by YB Paul Yong Choo Kiong ADUN Tronoh, YB Sivasubramaniam ADUN Buntong and Chong Zhemin DAP Perak Economic Development Chief on 17th April 2017.

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The reversal of the excise duty hike of MPV does not mean BN fulfill its last GE manifesto, call for BN to make clear on the roadmap to reduce car prices by 30% by 2018.

I cautiously welcome BN move to reverse the excise tax hike on certain MPV models, though the excise duty hike should not have happened in the first place since BN has promised to reduce car prices up to 30% by 2018.

The decision to reverse the excise duty hike does not mean BN has fulfilled its last GE manifesto. The people have every right to ask when will car prices come down by 30%.

We are now less than a year before reaching 2018 and there is not a single sign that car prices will come down. Has BN decided that it will renege on its promise to bring car prices down hence the flip-flopping on excise duty hike trying to give the impression that car excise duty have come down?

If Putrajaya is sincere to bring car prices down, I urge Putrajaya to immediately lay out a clear roadmap on how to reduce car prices by 30% by next year.

Media Statement by Chong Zhemin, DAP Perak Economic Development Bureau Chief and Political Secretary to Taiping MP on 14 April 2017

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The Public Universities disciplinary action against University students who speak up against the 1MDB scandal is an assault against freedom of expression and an act to further clampdown dissent on the 1MDB scandal.

Since 2016, there were 10 University students who were taken disciplinary action for speaking up against the 1MDB scandal.

Four of the University Malaya students known as UMANY 4 was taken action and fine for holding up placards during the 1MDB town hall forum. The 1MDB town hall forum which Arul Kanda was the speaker is nothing but a spin of facts to whitewash the 1MDB scandal and to brainwash the university students.

It is outrageous that a simple act of holding placard to show dissent is not tolerated by UM. Among the wordings on the placard reads, “1MDB Jangan Spin”, Mahasiswa mahukan jawapan”, 1MDB pulangkan duit rakyat”. UM’s move to take disciplinary action against UMANY 4 is an assault against freedom of expression.

Apart from that, 6 other student leaders were also taken disciplinary action for participating in the “Tangkap MO1” rally. 4 of the students are from UM, 1 from UKM, and 1 from UiTM.

The right to peaceful rally is enshrined under the Federal Constitution and the university should not take action against students who merely exercise their constitutional rights.

We urge UM, UKM and UiTM to immediately drop all charges against the students for speaking up against the 1MDB issue. Malaysia has overnight become a kleptocracy and one of the most globally corrupt nation due to the 1MDB.

University students who are the nation’s future have the responsibility to speak up against the 1MDB scandal and save Malaysia from being a global kleptocrat.

Joint Media Statement by Paul Yong Choo Kiong, DAP Perak Assistant Secretary and ADUN Tronoh and Chong Zhemin DAP Perak Publicity Bureau Chief on 12 April 2017.

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BN’s move to increase excise duty on budget MPV by 5% is a betrayal of their GE-13 manifesto. Call for the government to immediately fulfil their GE-13 manifesto to reduce car prices by 30%

Yesterday, Paul Tan’s Automotive News, a Malaysia popular automotive website revealed that the government has increased the excise duty on budget MPV by 5% to 65%. The vehicles that are affected by this increase of excise duty include Honda BR-V, Toyota Sienta, Toyota Avanza, Perodua Alza and Proton Ertiga.

It is anticipated that car manufacturers will pass on this increase in excise duty to customers and this would lead to more expensive car prices.

BN’s move to increase excise duty on budget MPV is a betrayal of their GE-13 manifesto to reduce car prices by 30%. Since 2013, car manufacturers have hike car prices at least twice due to the falling Ringgit. BN not only failed to formulate any policy to reduce car prices, they also failed miserably to neutralize the effect of depreciating Ringgit that lead to car price hike.

Budget MPV is now one of Malaysian’s favorite car segment as the SUV-styled seven-seater cater to the needs of a small family. I urge BN to withdraw the increase in excise duty on budget MPV with immediate effect.

I also call on BN to fulfil their GE-13 manifesto to reduce car prices by 30%, failure in which BN will be booted out by the people in the next general election.

Media Statement by DAP Perak Economic Development Bureau Chief and Political Secretary to MP Taiping, Chong Zhemin on 8 April 2017

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Najib must explain the discrepancies between his announcement in Budget 2017 that Broadband speed will be doubled effective January 2017 and Tmnet announcement that the doubling in Broadband speed will be implemented in stages from Jan to June 2017.

During the tabling of Budget 2017, Najib had announced in Parliament that effective January 2017, fixed line broadband service providers will offer services at a higher speed for the same price.

Telekom Malaysia(TMnet) has rolled out a “Thank you Surprise” campaign to upgrade user’s internet speed. However, this upgrade will be implemented in stages from January to June 2017. In other words, there will be a certain group of users which will only receive the free internet speed upgrade as late as June.

Najib must explain the discrepancies between his announcement in parliament and TMnet’s “Thank You Surprise” campaign.

If Najib failed to explain the reason, he might have misled the parliament during his budget 2017 announcement. Tmnet should also compensate the group of users which will only receive their free speed upgrade in June.

TMnet’s “Thank You Surprise” campaign also requires users to key in their name, IC number, TM Homeline, Handphone number and email and to accept the free speed upgrade.

I urge Tmnet to save the user’s hassle and provide the free speed upgrade automatically, as some users might oversee their email and failed to respond to it.

Media Statement by Chong Zhemin, DAP Perak Publicity Bureau Chief and Political Secretary to Taiping MP on 25 January 2017

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Police must immediately investigate whether there is any misappropriation or abuse of power regarding the missing RM50 Million allocation under budget 2016 to Chinese Primary schools

DAP Perak has today lodged a police report regarding the missing RM50 Million allocation under budget 2016 to Chinese Primary schools.

According to the news report in China Press today, Finance Ministry has confirmed that the full allocation has been disbursed to the Education Ministry. However, the Education Ministry denied receiving the full RM50 Million allocation.

I have lodged a police report at IPD Ipoh this morning to urge the police to investigate whether there is any misappropriation or abuse of power regarding the missing RM50 Million allocation to Chinese Primary Schools.

It is unacceptable that when there is just 8 days remaining in 2016, 800 Chinese Primary Schools throughout the country has yet to receive a single cent of allocation. The same has happened last year when RM30 million of the allocation to the Chinese Primary Schools has been use for flood relief purposes.

In 2013 and 2014, no such cases were reported. All the RM50 Million allocation promised to Chinese Primary Schools were disbursed in full. However, after MCA rejoined the cabinet, problems start arising. In two consecutive years, during 2014 and 2015 allocations to the Chinese Primary Schools have been reportedly missing.

MCA’s saying “When you have someone in the government, things get done.”(有人在朝好办事) is nothing more than an empty slogan. I urge MCA to stop using such tactics to deceive the people. It has been proven over time, with MCA in the cabinet, more problem arises.

I also urge the police to investigate the missing allocation of RM25 Million to SMJK schools and RM50 Million to Catholic Schools.

Media Statement by Chong Zhemin, Political Secretary to DAP Perak Chairman and DAP Perak Publicity Bureau Chief on 23 Dec 2016

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Is Liow Tiong Lai or Fadillah Yusof lying about the ECRL cost increase from RM30 Billion to RM55 Billion? Time for BN to come clean on the reason of the RM25 Billion cost increase and deny that the money will be used to bailed out 1MDB debts.

Transport Minister Liow Tiong Lai yesterday explained that the East Coast Rail Link(ECRL) cost increase from RM30 Billion to RM55 Billion is partly due to the fall in Ringgit. Liow said the figures cited in the project’s feasibility study was based on 2009-2010 exchange rates.

He was reported saying “That time dollar is only RM3.2 to a dollar, now its RM4.2 and gone up to RM4.5.”

Works minister Fadillah Yusof has as recent as 27 July 2016, denied a report by Sarawak Report that the ECRL cost will be inflated from RM30 Billion to RM60 Billion to pay off 1MDB debts. He also denied that the increment in cost was discussed in cabinet.

What had happened in the span of 3 months that the cost of ECRL has almost doubled from RM30 Billion to RM55 Billion? Is Liow Tiong Lai or Fadillah Yusof lying? Both of them cannot be telling the truth on the RM25 Billion cost increase in ECRL.

If Liow is telling the truth, Fadillah Yusof denial that the ECRL cost will increase from RM30 Billion to Rm 60 Billion will be a big lie. The BN cabinet will also be one of the most incompetent and substandard cabinet in the world as three months before the signing of a multi-billion agreement, the cabinet is still unaware that the cost is calculated based on the exchange rate of 2009-2010 and subject to increase.

If Fadillah is telling the truth in July by denying the ECRL cost will be inflated from RM30 Billion to RM 60 Billion then Liow’s “exchange rate” explanation will be expose as a lie.

I urge Liow and Fadillah to both come forward and clarify as both of their version of explanation contradicts each other. It is time for Barisan National to come clean on the increment of the cost of ECRL.

Malaysians deserve to know why in the span of 3 months the cost of ECRL was inflated from RM30 Billion to RM55 Billion. Will the inflated amount be used to bail out 1MDB debts?

BN must come clean on the reason of the RM25 Billion cost increase and deny that the money will be used to bailed out 1MDB debts.

Media Statement by Chong Zhemin, DAP Perak Economic Developement Bureau Chief and Political Secretary to Taiping MP on 3 Nov 2016