Mukhriz Hauls Anwar Irb To Court Over Rm5m Tax Assessment

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Pejuang president Mukhriz Mahathir obtained civil court leave to commence a challenge against the “invalid” RM5 million tax assessment against him.
The son of Dr Mahathir Mohamad alleged that the tax assessment was driven by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim's long-running feud with the ex-premier.
The Kuala Lumpur High Court today allowed Mukhriz's bid for leave to commence as well as for an ad-interim stay on the tax assessment.
Judge Amarjeet Singh ordered the temporary stay order to last until a hearing on April 16, whereby Anwar and two other respondents get the opportunity to argue against the stay.
The other respondents are the Inland Revenue Board (IRB) and the federal government.
Pejuang president Mukhriz MahathirAccording to court documents filed on Dec 20 last year, Mukhriz claimed the additional tax assessment for the years 2017 to 2019 - issued in 2023 – was unreasonable and unlawful.
The applicant contended that the IRB's actions were affected by Anwar's long-standing enmity against Mahathir, citing the Tambun MP’s expulsion from the Finance Ministry and Umno in 1998.
"Since the second respondent's (Anwar) expulsion from Umno and deputy prime minister position, it is widely known that the second respondent and Mahathir were political foes," Mukhriz said.
Anwar-Mahathir enmity
The applicant contended that the political rivalry happened even after a brief cooperation between Anwar and Mahathir for the Pakatan Harapan administration from 2018 to 2020.
Mukhriz noted that Anwar's political motive is displayed by MACC's investigation against his siblings Mokhzani and Mirzan.
Mukhriz claimed Anwar's enmity was also driven by a defamation suit filed against the sitting premier by Mahathir.
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim (right) and former premier Dr Mahathir MohamadThe former Kedah menteri besar pointed out that Mahathir's civil action was over an allegation that the family's wealth was due to the ex-premier's alleged corrupt acts when in power.
Mukhriz also claimed that Anwar had made false and premature accusations against Mahathir's family.
"After gaining the post of PMX (9th prime minister), the second respondent continued to issue various false statements with no reasonable basis and/or wrong accusations and/or wrong and premature conclusion, which looks like it was planned and with intent to give a false picture and perception against Mahathir and our family," Mukhriz lamented.
The IRB's disputed tax assessment was RM2,558,875.90 for 2017; RM2,445,004.91 for 2018; and RM16,826.37 for 2019.
Lawyer Nizamuddin Abdul Hamid acted for the applicant while senior federal counsel Wan Shahida Wan Omar appeared for the three respondents. - Mkini

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