Immigration Dept: IRB travel ban lifted

KUALA LUMPUR: The Immigration Department has confirmed that it received a letter from the Inland Revenue Board (IRB) to withdraw the no-fly list on taxpayers who failed to pay their income tax.

The department director-general Datuk Seri Mustafar Ali yesterday confirmed the letter that was sent to the department, dated June 1.

“I have yet to see the letter, but I have confirmed the request with IRB deputy chief executive officer (tax operations) (Mahmood Daud).

“He said IRB is reviewing the matter, thus travel restriction will be temporarily suspended.

“I was made to understand that the revocation of the no-fly list is temporary,” he told the New Straits Times Press.

On how soon the suspension of travel restriction would take effect, Mustafar said he needed to discuss the matter with the department’s security and passport division, as well as information and technology division.

“We need to update first before we can implement it.”

Yesterday, it was reported that IRB had sent a letter to the department to withdraw the travel restriction that is still in force.

The letter was signed by IRB chief executive officer Datuk Seri Sabin Samitah.

In the letter, Sabin has requested for cooperation from the department to withdraw travel restriction for cases involving IRB, starting June 1 until further notice.

I have confirmed the request with IRB deputy chief executive officer (tax operations) (Mahmood Daud). DATUK SERI MUSTAFAR ALI Immigration Department director-general