KUALA LUMPUR, July 25 — The opposition’s promise to reduce car prices is just a political gimmick to gain popularity and attract votes because such a promise cannot be fulfilled, said Unmo Youth Chief Khairy Jamaluddin.

Khairy (picture) said abolishing tax for cars would reduce the country’s tax revenue by RM4.6 billion a year.

“We can sacrifice RM4.6 billion in tax revenue but add that up to promises made like the abolishment of tolls, free education, increased oil royalty to Sabah and Sarawak, the abolishment of Perbadanan Tabung Pendidikan Tinggi Nasional and the assurance of a minimum wage of RM4,000 for every family, the country will go bankrupt,” he told reporters after chairing an Umno Youth Exco meeting here today.

Khairy opined that such ‘easy’ promises would have serious implications for the financial status of the country. Further, the opposition has not stated how such promises would be funded.

The promise to reduce car prices if the opposition gains power was made by Parti Keadilan Rakyat’s (PKR) strategy director Rafizi Ramli.

He had said that Pakatan Rakyat (PR) will offer a complete revamp of the National Automotive Policy (NAP), including slashing hefty excise duties and reducing the triple-tax burden imposed on cars here, should it come to power in the next general election. — Bernama