All Members of Parliament should explain the benefits and mechanisms of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) to the people on the ground, Yang di-Pertuan Agong Abdul Halim Mu'adzam Shah said today.

In his speech officially opening the new Parliament session for 2014, he said that MPs should explain that the GST is not an additional tax but is instead a replacement to the existing Sales and Services Tax (SST).

The opposition have vehemently objected to the implementation of GST, due in April 2015, claiming it would burden the people with increased cost of living, instead of alleviating it.

The Agong also extensively praised the efforts that the government is taking to further drive the country’s economy.

He said that there is a need for the government to abolish bulk subsidies and start implementing targeted subsidies.

He cited programmes such as Bantuan Rakyat 1Malaysia (BR1M) in helping the government achieve the subsidy target.