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UMNO’s slashed majority in Rompin due to GST, Dr Mahathir says

PUTRAJAYA — United Malays Nation Organisation reduced majority in the Rompin by-election yesterday (May 5) was likely caused by voters’ discontent towards the spike in living costs triggered by Putrajaya’s introduction of the Goods and Services Tax (GST), Dr Mahathir Mohamad said today (May 6).

Dr Mahathir Mohamad that the GST issue was too complex for rural folks like those in Rompin and argued that voters there are more concerned with inflation. Photo: Malay Mail Online

Dr Mahathir Mohamad that the GST issue was too complex for rural folks like those in Rompin and argued that voters there are more concerned with inflation. Photo: Malay Mail Online

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PUTRAJAYA — United Malays Nation Organisation reduced majority in the Rompin by-election yesterday (May 5) was likely caused by voters’ discontent towards the spike in living costs triggered by Putrajaya’s introduction of the Goods and Services Tax (GST), Dr Mahathir Mohamad said today (May 6).

The former prime minister’s assertion was aimed at deflecting accusations that his attacks on Prime Minister and UMNO president Najib Razak had influenced voters against voting for the party’s candidate.

“The focus there (in Rompin) is GST, higher cost of living, the increase in prices of goods and at the bottom (of the list) is 1MDB (1Malaysia Development Bhd),” Dr Mahathir was quoted by Malaysiakini as saying.

“The kampung people do not understand the 1MDB issue. It is hard for them to imagine RM42 billion (of debts),” he added.

Dr Mahathir has been pushing openly for Najib’s resignation, saying the latter’s refusal to address allegations such as those surrounding 1MDB puts Barisan Nasional’s (BN) rule at risk.

He had repeatedly highlighted Najib’s failure to address allegations that more than half of the RM42 billion (S$15.6 billion) debt accumulated by the state investment arm had not been accounted for.

However, Dr Mahathir said today that the issue was too complex for rural folks like those in Rompin and argued that voters there are more concerned with inflation.

“If we look now, purchasing power has gone down and they (the people) have to pay for GST. This further reduces their income.

“I think if we raise the minimum wage, the cost of living is (still) increasing. That we have to remember. That, I think, is what the government should remember about the people,” he said.

UMNO retained the Rompin parliamentary after its candidate Mr Hasan Arifin won in the by-election here today with a majority of 8,895 votes.

Mr Hasan, 62, obtained 23,796 votes or 61 per cent of the votes cast while his challenger, Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party’s (PAS) Nazri Ahmad, 40, secured 14,901 votes or 39 per cent.

UMNO had its majority reduced by almost half while PAS did not do any better, adding only 25 votes compared to what it garnered in Election 2013.

In the 13th General Election held in May 2013, Dr Jamaluddin Jarjis had retained the seat for the BN after defeating Dewan Muslimat PAS chief Nuridah Mohd Salleh with a majority of 15,114 votes.

Mr Jamaluddin obtained 30,040 votes or 66.53 per cent whereas Nuridah polled 14,926 votes or 33.06 per cent. MALAY MAIL ONLINE

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