Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim reaffirmed that the government will not reintroduce the Goods and Services Tax (GST) for now, citing the burden it would place on lower-income Malaysians. He explained that GST is a broad-based tax affecting all citizens, including the poor, fishermen and smallholders, regardless of the low rate. Anwar stressed that GST should only be considered when the economy strengthens and wages rise significantly. He criticised the opposition for politicising the issue, noting that targeted taxation, like on imported luxury goods, ensures fairness. Tax revenue, he said, is vital for national development but the rich, not the poor should carry that burden.