Zahid invited to grace forum on tax reform alongside LHDN, customs bigwigs

Senior speakers from two of Malaysia's main taxation agencies under the finance ministry today addressed a forum on tax reform in Kuala Lumpur, at which Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, the Umno president who faces multiple charges of corruption and money laundering, was named to deliver the closing address.

Inland Revenue Board (LHDN) chief executive Mohd Nizom Sairi delivered the opening address at the one-day forum dubbed the "Malaysia Tax Policy Forum", while customs director-general Zazuli Johan was represented by senior customs officer Roszita Dim in a luncheon address.

Both agencies come under the purview of the finance ministry headed by Tengku Zafrul Aziz, who only a day earlier was named as treasurer for Selangor Umno at an event attended by Zahid.

Zahid, whose trial is ongoing over 47 charges of criminal breach of trust, corruption and money laundering involving tens of millions of ringgit belonging to a charitable foundation, was represented by former Perak menteri besar Zambry Abdul Kadir, who is also Barisan Nasional secretary-general.

In his speech, Zahid called for the introduction of a political funding bill, and expressed regret about "rampant corruption under previous governments".

"Political funding can be right and wrong, depending on how we manage it. Nevertheless, it will be a significant milestone for parliamentary reform because it gets political parties to stop practising it, and transparency and accountability will prevail," he said.

The one-day forum, held in Putrajaya, was organised by the International Strategy Institute, a think tank which last year sparked criticism as well as the pullout of speakers for inviting convicted former prime minister Najib Razak to deliver the keynote address.

Najib’s nine-year rule was tainted by the 1MDB scandal, which saw him accused of channelling over US$700 million (about RM2.6 billion) from the strategic development company to his personal bank accounts. Facing a 12-year jail sentence, the former leader is set to make his final appeal at the Federal Court this month.

Last year, Dewan Rakyat Speaker Azhar Harun pulled out of the forum, which had also named PKR leader Anwar Ibrahim and several opposition leaders to speak on parliamentary democracy.