KOTA KINABALU – Malaysians named in the controversial Pandora Papers should come forward to the authorities to clear their names, said Howard Lee today.
The Pakatan Harapan (PH) Youth chief said these leaders should volunteer to speak to authorities if they believe they are not involved in any illegal activities.
“We are aware that not all of the offshore accounts were used to evade taxes or for money laundering. However, Malaysians revealed in the papers should be probed to clear their names.
“The exposure by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalism’s (ICIJ) Pandora and Panama Papers give enough information for the country’s justice system to probe into those involved in the illegal flow of money and assets offshore,” he told a press conference at the Luyang assemblyman’s office here today.
Earlier, Lee said he has lodged a police report over the Pandora Papers to prompt police to investigate the matter.
With Lee were Upko Youth chief Felix Joseph Saang, Sabah PH Youth chief Phoong Jin Zhe, Sabah Amanah Youth Chief Rendy Ismail and Sabah Muda chairman Shahrizal Denci.
Global Financial Integrity (GFI) had reported Malaysia lost RM1.8 trillion in illicit outflows between 2005 and 2014.
Those implicated in the recent Pandora Papers expose include Finance Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz, Deputy Finance Minister II Yamani Hafez Musa and Umno president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
Meanwhile, Lee said the Pandora Papers reveal comes alongside Malaysia’s downgrade on the annex grey list of the European Union’s revised tax haven blacklist, both of which have put the country in a bad light on the global stage
“It is such a shame that Malaysia, for the first time, has been downgraded to the annex grey list by the European Union as among non-cooperative nations for tax evasion on October 7.
“The listing of Malaysia means the country was involved in tax fraud, money laundering, tax evasion and hiding wealth obtained by illegal means,” said Lee, adding this is more shameful coming at a time when the country is still battling Covid-19.
Lee added the Pandora Papers should also be debated in Parliament and a Royal Commission of Inquiry set up to look into the matter. – The Vibes, October 14, 2021
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