Dr M: Did
Jamal pay taxes on donations he received?
Former prime minister
Dr Mahathir Mohamad wondered if Sungai Besar Umno chief Jamal Md Yunos had paid
taxes on the donations he received from his 'friends' which he planned to use
to send his branch chiefs on a learning trip to Dubai.
Mahathir also asked the same of the
RM1,000 that Jamal plans to pay to his branch chiefs and divisional delegates
after he cancelled the trip and decided to pass on the money to them in
compensation.
"According to Malaysian laws, all
monies received are an income," wrote Mahathir in his blog tonight.
He added that as such anything
classified as income must be reported to the Inland Revenue Board (LHDN), and
taxes paid accordingly.
As for donations, he said that only
those paid to welfare organisations approved by LHDN can be exempted from tax.
Mahathir (photo)
however pointed out that forms must be filled and the board informed. And if it
is not exempted from tax, both donater and donatee must pay taxes on their
separate ends.
"Were the LHDN informed of the
amount gifted by his friends?
"Did the LHDN officially gave an
exception to the good guy (Jamal) from paying taxes?
"And those who received the
RM1,000 from the good guy (Jamal), will they report it to LHDN and pay taxes on
it?" he asked.
"There is a lot of questions that
needs to be answered, but by my estimation, tens of thousands of ringgit must
be paid by those who donated, tens of thousands by the good guy (Jamal), and
thousands by those who Jamal gave to," he continued, adding that the OSA
should not be used to hide a crime, just because it is committed by a good guy.
If everything is above board, Mahathir
said, then Jamal, his friends who donated to him and those who would receive
his largess will have to file the matter with the LHDN and pay tax if they
must.
Jamal announced the gift of RM1,000 cash each in lieu of
cancelled plans to take the division’s branch chiefs overseas to Dubai during
the divisional AGM for Sungai Besar Umno on Aug 31.
“Five months ago I promised to bring
all 115 branch chiefs to Dubai, but only 80 of then agreed.
“As such, I cancel the offer and we will instead share the funds meant
for the trip at RM1,000 each,” he had said, to thunderous applause.
In fact, he said, all 646 delegates in
attendance will receive RM1,000 each.
The payment for the delegates will be
paid in two installments of RM500, with the second installment to be paid next
year, he said.
The Sungai Besar Umno chief was hit
with brickbats from opposition leaders who questioned the source of the funds
for such a gift.
Jamal said the money for the trip was
from donations from friends but refused to disclose who, saying that no laws
require full disclosure on political donations.
Did Jamal pay taxes on donations he received? LHDN must investigate this and answer us!
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