Democracy is about separation of power and basic internal control principal dictates that segregation
of duties as a corner stone of effective check and balance. Having the prime minister doubling up as the
finance minister is already a deliberate and gross impropriety design of Malaysia’s executive branch.
of duties as a corner stone of effective check and balance. Having the prime minister doubling up as the
finance minister is already a deliberate and gross impropriety design of Malaysia’s executive branch.
However, a not very known amendment to the Income Tax Act 1967 has magnified the above mentioned
weakness by unquantifiable folds.
weakness by unquantifiable folds.
Back in 2005, after the nation gave Pak Lah an overwhelming mandate to run the country
(with already well documented results), the then prime minister cum finance minister gave himself
a most overwhelming and stunning instrument of power (or potential avenue of abuse).
(with already well documented results), the then prime minister cum finance minister gave himself
a most overwhelming and stunning instrument of power (or potential avenue of abuse).
Section 127(C) of the Income Act, 1967, has been amended as follows:
In everyday English, the Finance Minister can exempt anyone from paying taxes on any income that is
rightfully subject to tax under the income tax act.
rightfully subject to tax under the income tax act.
What does this mean? It effectively means that the prime minister cum finance minister, is empowered
to point to anyone he fancies and say, “hey, you don’t need to pay any tax even though everyone else is
paying according to the income tax law.”
to point to anyone he fancies and say, “hey, you don’t need to pay any tax even though everyone else is
paying according to the income tax law.”
Given the climate of direct negotiation and inevitable cost overrun of government projects, mega, minor,
failed or overprice regardless, widespread accusation of thriving nepotism and cronyism, one can imagine
the power to award contracts and exempt income tax thereon can be a magnificent instrument of power
and control.
failed or overprice regardless, widespread accusation of thriving nepotism and cronyism, one can imagine
the power to award contracts and exempt income tax thereon can be a magnificent instrument of power
and control.
While we are enraged by the annual horror stories revealed in the auditor-general’s report, we also
wonder how much taxes these companies supplying hideously overpriced items to various government
departments have to pay.
Or, are these privileged and mysterious parties are given special exemptions by both the MACC and
inland revenue board at the sole discretion of the finance minister who since Mahathir administration
days, happens to be the head of the dominant political party? Surely Malaysia’s prime minister is the
most powerful one in the world!
inland revenue board at the sole discretion of the finance minister who since Mahathir administration
days, happens to be the head of the dominant political party? Surely Malaysia’s prime minister is the
most powerful one in the world!
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------http://news.asiaone.com/News/AsiaOne+News/Malaysia/Story/A1Story20111103-308484.html
No graft involved in purchase of binoculars
PUTRAJAYA, Malaysia - There were no financial irregularities involved in the Marine Park Department's
purchase of two pairs of night vision binoculars which cost 10 times more than the market price, MACC deputy commissioner Datuk Shukri Abdul said.
purchase of two pairs of night vision binoculars which cost 10 times more than the market price, MACC deputy commissioner Datuk Shukri Abdul said.
The Auditor-General's Report 2010 had stated that the binoculars were
2,805% or RM56,350 (S$22,920) more than the estimated market price
of RM1,940.
2,805% or RM56,350 (S$22,920) more than the estimated market price
of RM1,940.
"In this case, no market survey was conducted to find out the actual price of the binoculars and that is
a violation of the instructions," he said here yesterday.
a violation of the instructions," he said here yesterday.
Shukri said the MACC had consulted the Deputy Public Prosecutor and concluded that there was no
element of corruption.
element of corruption.
"We are also suggesting that the company be blacklisted for manipulating prices," he said, adding:
"Our investigation found that the binoculars could be purchased for less than RM5,000 each."
"Our investigation found that the binoculars could be purchased for less than RM5,000 each."
The report also said the department paid RM16,100 for an LCD television and DVD player which was
638% more than the market rate of RM2,182 and RM11,845 and 246% more for a laptop.
638% more than the market rate of RM2,182 and RM11,845 and 246% more for a laptop.
Shukri said Kapal Masai Engineering Sdn Bhd was awarded the tender to construct an all-weather
aluminium boat for the department.
aluminium boat for the department.
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When a government makes a law or introduced changes to existing ones, their intention and
reasoning must be made known to the public and properly debated and evaluated in parliament.
What, one would wonder, is the rational of this piece of legislation to be introduced?
reasoning must be made known to the public and properly debated and evaluated in parliament.
What, one would wonder, is the rational of this piece of legislation to be introduced?
We know that in the PKFTZ scandal, Kuala Dimensi Sdn Bhd made wonderful profits selling land at
inflated prices. However, its tax payment records were never made known to public.
inflated prices. However, its tax payment records were never made known to public.
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at RM 25 per square foot for a total consideration of RM 1.8 billion (inclusive of interest).
Kuala Dimensi made a capital gain of RM 993 million because it had
purchased the land from Pulau Lumut Development Cooperative Berhad for only RM 95 million[3]
(at RM 3 per square foot). Moreover, the Minister of Transport saw it fit to reject the
Attorney-General's view that the land could be acquired for "public purpose" under the Land
Acquisition Act at RM 10 per square foot.[3]
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What aboutt Gerbang Perdana Sdn Bhd who gets more money for not doing anything?
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Speaking after the handing over ceremony of the new Kuala Lumpur Courts Complex in
Jalan Duta here yesterday, Samy Vellu announced that the Government had compensated
RM222.4mil in two payments to Gerbang Perdana Sdn Bhd for the cancellation of the
Causeway bridge project.
An additional RM35mil will be paid soon for the cancellation of the project, work done
before the cancellation and the construction of a new bridge linking the Customs,
Immigration and Quarantine (CIQ) Complex and the Causeway.
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The Barisan Nasional administration should disclose to the public that for the past 6 years
since this amendment was introduced,
how many cases;
on what grounds;
to whom exemptions were awarded to and the amounts involved.
On one hand, the rakyat is levied with RM50 service tax on credit cards, increase of service
tax from 5% to 6%, hidden taxes in the form of toll charges, higher electricity tariff to cover
for IPPs’ rates and probably GST after BN’s mandate is being renewed in the coming GE, one is
truly intrigued by the actual operation and implementation of this subsection.
tax from 5% to 6%, hidden taxes in the form of toll charges, higher electricity tariff to cover
for IPPs’ rates and probably GST after BN’s mandate is being renewed in the coming GE, one is
truly intrigued by the actual operation and implementation of this subsection.
If Najib as prime minister talks about having the best democracy in Malaysia, then he should
look into this matter and clean up this mess that Badawi left behind. This would be an acid test
to his administration effectiveness and political will as the path to remedy may be populated
with burden of history and well entrenched structures.
look into this matter and clean up this mess that Badawi left behind. This would be an acid test
to his administration effectiveness and political will as the path to remedy may be populated
with burden of history and well entrenched structures.
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