PAS today urged the National Fatwa Council to advise Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak that is it not right to say that the goods and services tax is " halal " (permissible).

Its vice president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man said the GST introduced Wednesday is "not halal" given Malaysia’s conditions, and the National Fatwa Council should stop being the government’s rubber stamp.

Najib yesterday declared the tax, introduced Wednesday, as “halal”, citing a National Fatwa Council edict.

However, the council had actually said that GST is "harus" (neither discouraged nor encouraged).

"Economic mismanagement, investments to enrich only certain people, and widespread corruption - all this is not halal.

"Such crimes must be prevented first before the people are forced to pay a burdensome tax; this should have been the Fatwa Council’s focus.

"GST is like pouring water onto smoke. Fire should be fought with fire," Tuan Ibrahim (above) said in a statement.

He said the taxes do not automatically become halal just because the proceeds are used for national development.

Leaders must sacrifice luxury

The National Fatwa Council should instead refer to a fatwa by 13th century scholar Izzuddin Abdus Salam (Al-Izz) who told Sultan Qutuz it was 'haram' (forbidden) for the ruler to collect taxes until he sells off every piece of luxury for the cause, Tuan Ibrahim said.

Al-Izz was contradicting other scholars who endorsed Sultan Qutuz's tax collection for a military effort because it was for national security.

"This was the advice and censure which Islamic scholars and the National Fatwa Council should have given to the government.

"Stop wastage, mismanagement, and corruption, which is the cause for empty coffers and don’t ask the people to sacrifice so leaders can continue living in extreme luxury," he said.

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