Opposition leader Hamzah Zainudin accused Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim of being 鈥榯hin-skinned鈥 in response to criticisms from Perikatan Nasional MPs.PETALING JAYA: The opposition has accused Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim of dismissing public concerns over the economic burdens faced by the rakyat as the expansion of the sales and service tax is set to take effect on July 1.In a Facebook post, opposition leader Hamzah Zainudin criticised Anwar for downplaying the concerns raised by PN MPs as 鈥済immicks鈥.鈥淧N MPs have raised their concerns about the cumulative burdens borne by the public, but the prime minister seems thin-skinned (鈥渘ipis telinga鈥).鈥淗e assumes all the criticisms raised by the opposition stems from ignorance.鈥淲hen PN MPs warned that the upcoming RON95 rationalisation could worsen things, PMX said it was merely a gimmick by the opposition,鈥 he said.On June 16, The Star reported Anwar as saying the opposition鈥檚 negative narrative on the government鈥檚 proposed subsidy rationalisation exercise is just a 鈥渄esperate gimmick鈥 to show that people are facing hardship.鈥淭here is more negative news from them when we need encouraging news to propel our economy,鈥 he said.The SST expansion will see the 0% sales tax rate for basic necessities maintained, and rates of 5% to 10% imposed on non-essential goods from July 1.The service tax will be expanded to include rent, lease, construction, financial services, private healthcare and education.Anwar justified the tax鈥檚 expansion to include imported goods as a targeted measure aimed at high-income earners.However, Hamzah said the expansion to include over 4,000 goods and services is increasingly burdening the people. 鈥淭he government seems indifferent and stuck in denial,鈥 he said.