Players may miss Asia Cup due to tax issue

A HANDFUL of national players from the Terengganu Hockey Team (THT) could miss the Asia Cup in Dhaka, Bangladesh next month due to an oversight by the state team.

The five players, who had competed for the team in the Malaysian Hockey League (MHL), are likely to be barred from leaving the country due to unpaid income taxes for 2015.

A source claimed that the Terengganu Hockey Association (THA), who manage THT, did not inform their players of the need to put aside a sum of their wages for income taxes, adding that it was also not stated in the players’ contracts.

THT players were only informed of the matter in January when they were asked to meet with the Inland Revenue Board (LHDN). One player from the team is believed to have been requested to pay roughly RM35,000 in backdated taxes, including late payment penalties.

“The problem is that the management never informed us at all

about this from the start,” said the source.

“If the players had known about it, they would definitely have paid it. How are they going to come up with such a large sum

now?”

The source added that it is a worrying development as the five players are expected to compete in Dhaka.

“For the others, it might not be

such a big deal but it is a problem for those who are part of the national team as they will be barred from travelling.”

The source also disclosed that THT have not paid their players

for the past two months.

THT are one of the main contenders in the MHL and have won the league three times, last of which came last year. Saiful Affendy Sapran