Pakatan Harapan chairperson Dr Mahathir Mohamad said the reason why the Najib-administration implemented the goods and services tax (GST) was to make up for the shortfall caused by the abuse of public funds for populist policies.

He said this includes the Bantuan Rakyat 1Malaysia (BR1M) cash handouts, RM300 handouts for fishermen, RM800 for Village Development Committee (JKKK) chairpersons, sponsoring pilgrims, providing pensions for those of are ineligible, among others.

"The reasons why Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak's government does not have enough money is because of his abuses in the management of government funds to gain popularity for himself," he said...