KUALA LUMPUR – Ahead of his money-laundering trial next year, Pontian MP Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan has suggested that the new government table a political funding bill to avoid “abuse by political enemies”.
The Umno secretary-general, who claimed trial, said a political funding act will protect the giver and receiver of political funds from being political targets who will use certain agencies for their own means.
“Although political funds are currently allowed in Malaysia, they are not under the purview of any laws.
“I once asked the Finance Ministry in Dewan Rakyat if political funds are taxable. The answer is no.
“But 41 parties saw their assets forfeited and 80 were compounded on charges that they received certain funds. But the recipients did not know the origin of the funds and accepted thinking they were political funds. So is that fair?” he tweeted today.
Meanwhile, Ahmad faces charges of money laundering and providing false statements to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).
He pleaded not guilty to both charges.
Ahmad, 55, had pleaded not guilty to the charges for the first time last July 13 after the court allowed his application to transfer the case from the sessions court to the high court.
In allowing Ahmad’s application, the sessions court maintained the RM500,000 bail it imposed when he was charged for the first time on January 21 last year, while the high court set September 29 for case management.
At yesterday’s proceeding, the prosecution, conducted by deputy public prosecutor Mohd Mukhzany Fariz Mohd Mokhtar, informed the court that it would call 10 witnesses to testify.
His trial is set to start on June 7 next year, and is expected to last 23 days.
On the charge of money laundering, Ahmad was alleged to have violated Section 113(1)(a) of the Income Tax Act 1967 by not stating his real income on the RM2 million he received from former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak in the income tax return form for assessment year 2013.
He is alleged to have received the money, believed to be proceeds of illegal activities, via an AmIslamic Bank Bhd cheque dated November 27, 2013, which he personally cashed on the same day.
The offence was allegedly committed at the Inland Revenue Board, Duta branch, Government Office Complex, Jalan Tuanku Abdul Halim, on April 30, 2014.
The charge, framed under Section 4(1)(a) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001, provides a maximum fine of RM5 million or imprisonment for up to five years, or both, if found guilty.
The other charge was for giving false statements to the MACC when questioned by investigating officer Mohd Zairi Zainal over the issue at the Parliament building’s media conference room between 2.45pm and 3.30pm on July 4, 2019.
The charge, framed under Section 32(8)(c) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001, provides a maximum fine of RM3 million or imprisonment for up to five years, or both if found guilty. – The Vibes, August 25, 2021
