Albukhary Foundation tax issue: I didn't defame Guan Eng - Muhyiddin

 

Former prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin testified in court he never defamed former finance minister Lim Guan Eng over the issue of the revocation of Albukhary Foundation’s tax exemption status.

The Pagoh MP told the Kuala Lumpur High Court that he was merely making a media statement on what he told MACC when the commission asked him about the foundation.

Today is the continued court hearing of the Bagan MP’s defamation suit against Muhyiddin (above, right) over the allegation that the former greenlit the tax-exemption status during the Pakatan Harapan administration.

As judicial commissioner Roz Mawar Rozain presided over proceedings, Muhyiddin testified that he was explaining to the media what transpired when he was summoned to MACC on March 9 last year.

Muhyiddin said he was explaining that the anti-graft agency was questioning him not only over the Jana Wibawa programme but also on the issue of Albukhary Foundation’s appeal against the revocation of its tax-exempt status.

The ex-premier said the foundation was granted tax-exempt status during the previous BN government prior to 2018 and that the appeal was made in 2021 during the then Perikatan Nasional administration which he headed.

Lim was finance minister during the Harapan administration between May 2018 and February 2020, while Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz took over the portfolio during the PN administration until October 2022.

“I was explaining that the Albukhary Foundation was engaged in charity activities. Based on my knowledge and memory, they (the foundation) were seeking for me to bring back the tax exemption.

“I was told that the Inland Revenue Board (IRB) made the decision not to acknowledge the exemption previously given. So when I was prime minister, they (the foundation) appealed to me.

“I had minuted the (foundation’s) appeal letter so that it could be brought to the attention of the finance minister (Zafrul) for consideration,” Muhyiddin testified from the witness stand.

‘No malicious intent’

The former premier added that he had never issued the statement with malicious intent as he was merely explaining to the media what transpired during his meeting with MACC.

The trial before Roz resumes tomorrow, with two other witnesses expected to take the stand.

On March 27 last year, Lim filed a writ of summons against Muhyiddin.

A month later, through his statement of defence, Muhyiddin contended that Lim has to prove in court that the Finance Ministry did not revoke the tax exemption status.

The Pagoh MP also claimed that Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s statement in Parliament - that there were no records of Lim revoking the foundation’s tax exemption status - was “wholly irrelevant” and a mere deflection so that Lim would not be held accountable for the IRB decision on the issue.

In his reply to Muhyiddin’s defence, Lim questioned why Muhyiddin did not raise the issue of the alleged tax exemption cancellation when they were both part of then premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s cabinet.

Muhyiddin was the home minister during the Harapan administration from 2018 to 2020.

Lim is seeking unspecified damages from Muhyiddin. - Mkini