Political donations are not subjected to tax, said Inland Revenue Board (IRB) chief Mohd Shukor Mahfar as quoted by news portal Malaysiakini.
“To me, if the income is subjected to tax, (then we can tax). If income not subjected to income tax, then we cannot tax,” he was quoted as saying when asked by reporters on political donations.
It was reported previously that central bank Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) and the IRB knew about the deposit of RM2.6 billion into Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s personal account.
Barisan Nasional Backbenchers Club (BNBBC) chairman Tan Sri Shahrir Samad in a report by The Star also said at present, there was no regulation in the country that insisted on the declaration of political donations and funds.
"This situation can be changed with (new) laws so that political funding can be transparent, but at this moment there are no such laws yet," he was quoted as saying.
He added that he fully supported new laws and regulations to make political donations and funds more transparent.
Former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad yesterday suggested the IRB investigate Najib, saying it was their right to do so.
He said in a blog post that the board appeared not to be doing its duty over the RM2.6 billion deposited into Najib's accounts, adding that the amount was obviously beyond what a Malaysian prime minister could have.
Dr Mahathir has been a vocal critic of Najib and his administration which have been tarnished by financial scandals involving debt-ridden state-owned investment firm 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB), the RM2.6 billion donation, a slow economy and weakening ringgit. – February 16, 2016.
-THE MALAYSIAN INSIDER-
Post a Comment