Bukan isu SST semata-mata, pemimpin PH tepis dakwaan Ahmad Maslan

The issue of whether Chinese merchants are distancing themselves from Pakatan Harapan (PH) is not merely about the Sale and Usage Tax (SST), according to Chong Zhemin, a Kampar MP. Instead, the decision of voters is influenced by a multitude of factors, including living costs, economic performance, political stability, and administrative quality.

Speaking to FMT, Chong emphasized that the support of the Chinese merchants for PH is not solely determined by the SST issue. "Linking the support of Chinese merchants towards PH solely with the SST is incorrect," he stated. "Moreover, the SST is a collective decision made by the united government, which includes Umno and Barisan Nasional (BN). Consequently, it is unfair to assign sole responsibility for this issue to PH."

Chong also addressed Ahmad Maslan, a member of Umno's High Council, who accused Chinese merchants of shifting their support away from PH due to dissatisfaction with the SST implementation. It was reported that Ahmad suggested Chinese merchants might prefer the Goods and Services Tax (GST) as it allows them to claim input tax credits or receive refunds.

Chong suggested that Ahmad should bring up this proposal for collective consideration at the government level if he believes GST is a better option. "It should not be used to pin the blame on PH as the scapegoat for a decision also agreed upon by his own party," Chong said. Meanwhile, Amanah Faiz Fadzil, Deputy Head of Amanah, refuted the PH claim of losing Chinese merchants' support.

He argued that weak communication on PH's part allows opposing parties to manipulate the racial narrative. "Chinese voters remain loyal to PH, but Malay voters are not satisfied. This racial narrative needs to be dismantled by PH," he stated. "There are many strong government grounds, especially in economic management, but PH needs to improve its communication aspect to make the people aware of its capabilities."

However, he acknowledged that Ahmad's criticisms should still be accepted as a platform for the united government to reevaluate any unpopular grounds. "Even though this ground is decided collectively, all parties in the government, including PH and BN, must take collective responsibility," he added.