KUALA LUMPUR – DAP national chairman Lim Guan Eng has alleged that Bersatu Youth chief Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal has committed a crime by lodging a false police report relating to the Yayasan Albukhary tax exemption debacle.
Lim said Wan Fayhsal, who lodged a police report against him and Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim yesterday, was in contempt of parliamentary proceedings by attempting to turn the matter into a police investigation.
“Wan Fayhsal also claimed in his police report that Anwar had confused and misled the Dewan Rakyat by supporting my contention that I had never revoked the tax-exempt status of Yayasan Albukhary.
“Wan Fayhsal is wrong for attempting to bring police into parliamentary proceedings.
“Clearly he either does not respect nor understand the principle of the supremacy of Parliament in our federal constitution,” said Lim in the statement today.
Wan Fayhsal had alleged that Anwar misled the lower House by stating that the finance minister was not empowered under the law to grant tax exemptions. The Bersatu man also contended that Lim had lied about not revoking the foundation’s tax exemption status.
This is after Anwar had confirmed to the Dewan Rakyat on March 21 that Lim did not revoke the tax exemption for Yayasan Albukhary during Lim’s tenure as finance minister.
Anwar dismissed accusations levelled against Lim on the matter, noting that Section 44(6) of the Income Tax Act 1967 does not afford powers to a minister over tax exemption matters, stating that the tax exemption for the foundation was only approved on February 25, 2021.
Similarly, the prime minister also explained that under the section, absolute power regarding tax exemption issues is given to the Inland Revenue Board director-general, not a minister or the prime minister.
“Wan Fayhsal shows his ignorance and lack of knowledge about economic, financial or taxation matters when section 44(6B) refers to appeals to the minister and not the minister initiating revocation of tax-exempt status,” said Lim.
“I had not seen the file of Yayasan Albukhary when I was finance minister and was in no position to decide on any appeal since none was made by the foundation to me.
“Clearly there was no revocation of Yayasan Albukhary’s tax-exempt status when I was finance minister.”
Lim also raised the question whether there was any revocation at all concerning the foundation as claimed by Perikatan Nasional chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.
“If there was such a revocation, then it can only be done during Muhyiddin’s tenure as prime minister.
“Wan Fayhsal should persuade Muhyiddin to show any letters of revocation by me. If Muhyiddin fails to do so, then Muhyiddin and Wan Fayhsal are making an empty claim that is baseless and false.”
Lim had lodged a police report against Muhyiddin, stating that the latter’s “baseless accusations” were an attempt to shift attention away from the Pagoh MP’s ongoing corruption charges.
He added that he made the police report because Muhyiddin’s claims – that a non-Muslim finance minister had revoked the tax-exempt status of a Muslim charity – could stir racial tensions and threaten national security. – The Vibes, March 25, 2023
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