Ex-DAP lawmaker tells Wan Fayshal to stop fake news on Yayasan Albukhary’s tax exemption matter

KUALA LUMPUR, March 26 — Former DAP Bukit Bendera MP Wong Hon Wai today said that political debates should be based on facts and evidence instead of using fake news and mere slander.

Wong who was commenting on the Yayasan Albukhary allegations said Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia’s (Bersatu) Machang MP Wan Ahmad Fayshal Wan Ahmad Kamal’s recent statements did not reflect the actual situation.

“I am referring to Wan Ahmad Fayhsal’s statement on March 25 and would like to state that the ‘threat’ mentioned by the Machang MP is just his imagination and does not directly reflect the actual situation.

“The purpose of Lim Guan Eng (DAP Bagan MP) making a police report and also issuing a letter of legal claim against Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin was not to threaten but to defend his good name following the series of accusations made by the Perikatan Nasional (PN) chairman,” Wong who is Lim’s political secretary said in a statement today.

Wong was referring to Lim’s legal action taken against Muhyiddin for allegations against the former finance minister having a hand in cancelling tax exemption approval that was given to the Yayasan Albukhary.

Wong added that Wan Ahmad Fayshal’s statement clearly showed that he does not understand taxation legislation and financial administration.

He said the Ministry of Finance (MOF) has confirmed that none of its officials made any cancellation of the tax exemption approval that was given to the Yayasan Albukhary.

“The Dewan Rakyat was informed through an official answer by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim regarding this issue that the former Finance Minister never cancelled the tax exemption approval that had been given to the Yayasan Albukhary.

“Muhyiddin was given seven days to retract his statement and apologise regarding the accusation of linking Lim with the cancellation of taxes to the Yayasan Albukhary but he failed to do so or present any evidence either in the Dewan Rakyat or outside the Dewan Rakyat.

“So Lim started a legal process against Muhyiddin to protect his good name,” he added.

Wan Ahmad Fayshal who is Bersatu’s Youth chief had on Friday urged the police to probe Anwar and Lim over Yayasan Albukhary’s (YAB) tax exemption status.

He claimed that Anwar had knowingly misled the Dewan Rakyat by backing the Bagan MP and leaving out key details about the purported revocation of the Islamic charitable organisation’s tax exemption status when the latter was finance minister in the then Pakatan Harapan government.

Wan Ahmad Fayhsal said that Yayasan Albukhary had received tax exemption from 2016 to 2018 during the Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s administration, but that the Inland Revenue Board had rejected the foundation’s request during the subsequent PH administration, where Lim held the finance minister’s portfolio.

On March 22, Lim lodged a police report against Muhyiddin to prevent the latter’s claims about Yayasan Albukhary from being used as campaign fodder during state elections that are expected later this year.

Previously, Lim reminded Muhyiddin that the latter had until the previous day to issue a public apology for his accusations and to withdraw his statements or legal action would be taken against him.

Despite Lim’s repeated warnings, the Pagoh MP has said he would not retract his allegations.

He first warned Muhyiddin on March 4 that he had no qualms taking legal action.

Lim said Muhyiddin had failed to produce evidence to support his allegations.