Lim said that imposing such a tax risked angering women voters, Sin Chew Daily reported.

“The women’s vote is very important, the government cannot afford to offend them,” he was quoted as saying.

Lim, who had overseen the reintroduction of the sales and service tax in 2018, also called on the federal government to postpone the rollout of the revised SST.

On Monday, the finance ministry said that a 5% to 10% rate will be imposed on non-essential goods from July 1.

The service tax, on the other hand, will be expanded to include rent, lease, construction, financial services, private healthcare, and education.

Lim also questioned the decision to impose a 5% tax on imported fruits, like apples and oranges.

“We understand that the government is doing this to encourage the consumption of local fruits, but certain imported fruits like apples and oranges should not be taxed,” he said.

Since the announcement, several associations have raised concerns about the potential impact on service accessibility, pricing transparency, and operational preparedness, especially for sectors like healthcare and education which serve many non-Malaysians including foreign workers, expatriates, and international students.