Thursday, 27th March 2008
KOTA KINABALU: The Inland Revenue Board (IRB) has barred former Chief Minister Datuk Harris Mohamed Salleh from leaving the country until he settles RM 419,715.62 in Real Property Gains Tax owed to the Board, the Daily Express reliably learnt. A Certificate dated Feb. 22, 2008 signed by the Kota Kinabalu IRB Principal Assistant Director (Collection) Shahril Jalinus had been issued under Section 22(1) of the Real Property Gains Tax Act, 1976 to compel Harris to fully settle the amount or furnish security to the satisfaction of the Director-General. Shahril was believed to be exercising the power conferred to him by Section 45(4) of the Real Property Gains Tax Act to certify the amount that must be settled by Harris. The IRB had forwarded copies of the Certificate and letters to the Inspector-General of Police and Immigration Director-General requesting them to take necessary action to prevent Harris from leaving Malaysia unless and until he had settled the outstanding tax. When contacted, Harris confirmed receiving the ban letters both in Bahasa Malaysia and English. However, he insisted that the whole episode was a "very bad mistake" on the part of the authorities which "bordered on malice or was politically motivated". He said the matter had been referred to his lawyers who would soon be demanding a public apology and appropriate compensation from IRB. "Whoever is responsible can expect to face a lawsuit," he said. According to him, he is not liable to pay the Real Property Gains Tax. He said he is puzzled over the action as none other than the IRB had issued him a letter in 2005 stating that the land involved in the transaction was subjected to tax. "I can only conclude that the action is based on malice or was politically-motivated," he said. Harris was Chief Minister during the Berjaya era from 1975 to 1984. If it comes to that, this is not the first time that Harris had sued authorities for actions that he deemed to be unjust. In the late 1990s, his Hotel Labuan was ordered close by the then Labuan Development Authority on the basis that it was structurally unsafe. However, he claimed it was politically-motivated and took the LDA to court. The court then awarded him RM90million compensation and to return possession of the hotel to him. However, Labuan LDA had appealed and the outcome is awaited. It was reported that the Government was agreeable to compensate him an appropriate amount out of court.
******************************************************
The Jesseltonite Review
If this guy was in Australia or Singapore, he would have been 'crucified' for setting a bad example as a Chief Minister running away from tax! Anyhow, we'd like to see what happens now since he claims it to be a 'politically motivated' move. Should we give him the benefit of doubt?
Good job IRB for digging the truth out if it is even true in the first place. But I'm sure Harris isn't the only one with unsettled Real Property Gains Tax. What about current Ministers? Let's hope that the IRB isn't the next government body that is pro-BN. Let's not stop at digging out dirty laundry like unsettled taxes. What happened to the ex-Sabah CM who gambled some millions away at casinos in the UK and Australia? Where did his money even come from? Is he still running around free after mismanaging State funds? And the other ex-Sabah CM who signed away the beautiful Likas Bay to be reclaimed (Thank God that project was halted before it could even start). Oh, I heard he got penalised for some 'technical errors' in the 2004 elections and was therefore removed as Assemblyman. 'Technical errors'? Wasn't it something like importing phantom voters into the electoral roll? Isn't that selling your state away to a northern neighbour? Shouldn't all these ex-CMs be jailed so that future CMs be taught a lesson that they can never get away with their dirty laundry? Let's not stop there my dear government bodies. IRB, ACA, etc. etc.
Perhaps, if politicians in Sabah are truly loyal servants of the State, they should follow Penang CM Lim Guan Eng's footsteps in making it compulsory to declare Minister's assets. It's also reported that The Prime Minister under immense pressure has already committed to asset-declaring of the Cabinet and also with the IPCMC..hopefully he goes through with the commitment. Of course, asset- declaring will never happen in Sabah because if it does, the State Assembly will go into anarchy! If there is any witchhunt, ALL of them will be 'burnt at the stake'!
*shakes my head*
Corruption! Corruption! Corruption!
0 comments:
Post a Comment