DPM WELCOMES PAC PROPOSAL
Raising tax arrears threshold means fewer will be barred from travelling, says Zahid
DEPUTY Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi yesterday gave a thumbs-up to the Public Accounts Committee’s (PAC) recommendation to raise the tax arrears threshold that triggers a travel ban on individuals and companies.
“By raising the threshold for individuals to RM10,000, the number of taxpayers that are barred from travelling abroad will decrease.
“I will monitor this, and if it is agreed to at the cabinet, it will be enforced immediately.
“Enforcement will involve the Finance Ministry, Insolvency Department and Immigration Department,” said Zahid, who is Bagan Datuk member of parliament, after launching the Bagan Datuk Sahabat Amanah Ikhtiar Malaysia Entrepreneurs Club at Dewan Datuk Lope Hashim here.
“I will instruct the Immigration Department director-general (Datuk Seri Mustafar Ali) to implement it (background checks on travellers).
“Those who wish to travel to fulfil religious obligations must apply for a temporary exemption from the Insolvency Department.”
It was reported on Thursday that PAC had recommended that the Inland Revenue Board (IRB) raise the tax arrears threshold of RM2,000, which activates a travel ban, to RM10,000.
PAC chairman Datuk Seri Hasan Ariffin said the RM2,000 level was unsuitable under current economic circumstances.
PAC also suggested that IRB increase the tax arrears threshold for companies to RM50,000.
Present were Amanah Ikhtiar Malaysia executive chairman Datuk Dr Zubir Harun and board of directors member Muhammad Shuhaimi Othman.
Zahid praised AIM’s management for giving loans to deserving people.
“AIM’s achievement is a great example, besides Grameen Bank in Bangladesh, because AIM is more structured and transparent and makes more profit.
“AIM is an exemplary model for developing countries. AIM does not just handle fund management and planning through micro-credit, but it is also a socioeconomic programme to improve the economic standards of poor families and get them out of poverty.”