Shahrir Samad received RM25,700 in monthly allowances as MP, court told

The Kuala Lumpur High Court was today told that Shahrir Samad received RM25,700 in monthly allowances from the Parliamentary Affairs Division when he was a member of the Dewan Rakyat.

Parliamentary Affairs Division senior assistant administrative officer Rosli Mat Jinun, 49, said when Shahrir was elected as a member of the Dewan Rakyat, he received a monthly allowance as well as allowances for entertainment, telephone, travel, special payments, a fixed car driver, petrol and toll.

"Shahrir was elected as a member of the Dewan Rakyat on July 8, 1978. After the 13th general election, beginning May 5, 2013, Shahrir received allowances amounting to RM13,108.59.

"However, beginning Jan 1, 2015, after the adjustment of allowances for members of the Dewan Rakyat, Shahrir received allowances totalling RM25,700. Each member of parliament is eligible to receive the fixed monthly allowances," he said.

Rosli, the first prosecution witness, said this while reading out his witness statement at the trial of the former Felda chairman, who is charged with failing to declare RM1 million which he received from former prime minister Najib Razak to the Inland Revenue Board (LHDN).
 
Rosli, who is tasked among others with managing the payment and termination of allowances for MPs, also confirmed that the allowances were paid by the Parliamentary Affairs Division to Shahrir through the former Johor Bahru MP's Public Bank account.

Shahrir, 72, was charged with laundering money by failing to state his real income in the income tax return form, which is a violation of Section 113(1)(a) of the Income Tax Act 1967, for the RM1 million, believed to be from unlawful activities, which he received from Najib through a cheque.

The cheque was deposited into Shahrir’s Public Islamic Bank account on Nov 28, 2013.

He was charged with committing the offence at LHDN, Duta Branch, Government Office Complex, Jalan Tuanku Abdul Halim on April 25, 2014.

The charge, framed under Section 4(1)(a) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001, provides for a maximum fine of RM5 million, imprisonment of up to five years, or both upon conviction.

The trial before judge Muhammad Jamil Hussin continues tomorrow.