There is no doubt that inflation will soar now that Putrajaya wants to subject 60 basic food items to the goods and services tax (GST), warned PKR vice-president Rafizi Ramli.

[Editor's note: Putrajaya has decided to scrap the plan to subject the 60 food items to GST at mid-day today.]

He said this would result in economic repercussions and public backlash due to the added burden faced by the lower-income group, said Rafizi, who is also a trained accountant.

"Even though a portion of the food items comprise imported fruits and vegetables, there are also many other basic food items used by a majority of Malaysians," he said.

Among others, the food items which are no longer on the "zero rated" list and thus subject to 6 percent GST includes potatoes, long beans, peas, spinach, corn, various types of noodles and coconut oil.

"I am warning the prime minister that imposing GST on food items will only incite the people's anger against him," said Rafizi who called upon the government to withdraw its decision.

Meanwhile, questioning whether the goods were indeed "rarely consumed by the masses", PKR lawmaker William Leong believes that the government was removing essential items from the zero-rated list one by one.

With the latest move, eateries would have no choice but to increase the price of meals when the GST imposed on the food items comes into effect.

"Daily household expenses, on the other hand, will increase due to the increase in the prices of these food items.

"The Umno/BN government has too many problems in managing the country’s finances that it has to collect money from the poor through the GST," said the Selayang MP.