(April 29): Datuk Ahmad Maslan today told his critics including former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad to learn about the goods and services tax (GST).

The deputy finance minister, who has been criticised several times over his remarks on the tax, also hit out at Perlis Mufti Datuk Dr Mohd Asri Zainal Abidin and academician Associate Professor Datuk Dr Mohamad Agus Yusof.

The duo had earlier this week criticised Ahmad Maslan for saying that Dr Mahathir did not understand the GST.

Dr Mahathir had also been calling for the GST to be scrapped.

"Dr Asri and Dr Agus don't understand the GST, just like Dr Mahathir. That is all I can say.

"I hope those who advise and report to Dr Mahathir will give him the right picture. Don't give him wrong information," he told reporters at a press conference at the Communication and Multimedia Ministry media centre on Permatang Pauh.

"'Kesian orang tua tu' (pity the old man)," he told reporters at a press conference at the Barisan Nasional media centre in Permatang Pauh.

Ahmad Maslan said the GST had brought tax rates down, such as for individual income and corporate taxes.

He said if Dr Mahathir, Asri and Agus knew about that, he believed they would also support the GST.

"So for Dr Agus and Dr Asri, I recommend you learn more about the GST before you call me stupid and so on," he said.

When asked if he wanted them to take lessons from him, he replied: "Not necessary. It is enough for them to check the website that explains how GST works."

Ahmad Maslan had recently remarked that Dr Mahathir, who is a strong critic against the implementation of the GST and even suggested that it should be scrapped, did not under the tax.

The remark drew criticisms from Asri, who posted on his Facebook that he now wondered whether a fool could be appointed to the Cabinet.

“If someone whom the majority of Malaysians perceive as ‘less intelligent’ (to avoid using the word stupid) because of his statements on GST, says that Tun Dr M, who is famous for his intellect, does not understand GST, then is the person who made that statement wiser than Tun Dr M?

"It got me thinking, in Islamic jurisprudence, a person who is safih (stupid or less intelligent) should not be allowed to manage wealth, even that of his own. So the question is, can people under this category be given the authority to manage the country's affairs, which affect the people?

“Can the less intelligent be given important posts such as that of minister and the like?” Asri wrote in a Facebook post, without mentioning Ahmad Maslan.

Agus also posted a sarcastic statement against Ahmad Maslan on his Facebook page, suggesting that the latter and Dr Mahathir engage in a debate to determine which of them did not understand the GST.

"When Datuk Ahmad Maslan said Tun Dr Mahathir does not understand GST, I think both should have an open debate. I want to see who understands better.

"What I am sure about is GST doesn't reduce prices of goods as claimed by Datuk Ahmad Maslan. So which of the two is the one who really doesn't understand?" he posted.

This morning, quoting party sources, Astro Awani reported that "several Umno leaders had warned the deputy finance minister against highlighting GST issues", especially after he was criticised on social media for his earlier statements on the new consumption tax.

However, this afternoon,  Ahmad Maslan denied any such gag order, telling reporters, "I was not told by the leadership to stop talking about the tax. If I stop talking about GST, then the opposition wins." – The Malaysian Insider