(April 1): The #KitaLawan movement will again take to the streets of Kuala Lumpur on May 1, adding the goods and services tax (GST), which takes effect today, to their list of causes.

The movement's secretariat said the consumption tax should open people's eyes to how oppressive the tax was on low-wage earners and the jobless.

Directing the call to march on the streets at youth, #KitaLawan said the GST would add to the burden of students, young graduates and retirees.

"Those who before this did not pay income tax because they did not earn enough, as well as those who do not work like students, graduates and retirees, are now faced with added pressure from this tax.

"Even ordinary citizens will have to reduce their spending to face a higher cost of living, while the country's rulers continue to spend the nation's wealth," its statement said.

"As such we call on all to join us in Kuala Lumpur on May 1 for the #KitaLawanGST gathering."

#KitaLawan rallies on March 7 and 28 were aimed at calling for opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's release from jail, where he is serving a sentence for sodomy, and for Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak's resignation.

In a separate statement, PKR Youth chief Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad also urged people to oppose the GST by joining the May 1 demonstration.

"The introduction of GST today is a huge mistake of the Umno-Barisan Nasional government. We oppose its implementation given the current economic climate and rife corruption," he said.

Nik Nazmi added that the recent arrests against activists, journalists and opposition members were an attempt to distract people's attention from the GST and financial scandals such as those involving strategic development fund, 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB).

He said despite the GST's implantation starting today, it was still unclear which items were zero-rated and which were exempted.

"The government has failed in helping companies, workers and consumers understand the tax."

Past #KitaLawan rallies have proceeded smoothly with no police interference and arrests were only made after they had ended. – The Malaysian Insider