KUALA LUMPUR – The Inland Revenue Board (IRB) has denied political motivations were behind its raid on Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin’s Damansara residence.
The agency told Berita Harian its investigations were carried out without fear or favour.
It said it did not target specific individuals, and that inspection of taxpayers’ premises was part of normal enforcement actions when investigating cases.
“Inspections at premises, including residential premises, are part of the enforcement process to ensure fairness to the public.
“Such actions are also a form of service to the people who fulfil their tax obligations consistently,” IRB was reported as saying.
The agency also said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim had emphasised that it should remain free from any influence.
IRB’s response comes as Perikatan Nasional (PN) politicians claim the action against Hamzah was politically motivated.
Hamzah, who is opposition leader in Parliament, had his home raided on Wednesday and several documents were seized, sources told media agencies at the time.
However, the former home minister yesterday denied the raid took place and said news reports on it were fabrications, according to the New Straits Times quoting him in a press conference when launching the Marang PN election machinery.
Hamzah said he would take legal action against those responsible over the allegations surrounding the raid.
The Larut MP also stated that he would prove that all attacks against him and other PN leaders were baseless and intended to tarnish their reputations.
On Friday, Anwar said that he was not informed about IRB’s investigations, adding that such activities are the responsibility of the agency itself.
Today again, in Kelantan, the prime minister said he had never ordered government agencies to target anyone specific. He said the only instruction he gave to law enforcers was to conduct their duties without fear or favour. – The Vibes, June 18, 2023
