Latest news with #MuhyiddinYassin
Free Malaysia Today
2 days ago
- Business
- Free Malaysia Today
PN's GST flip-flop fuels doubts about its policy direction, says analyst
PN leaders are simply seeking political mileage with their narratives on the GST, says an analyst. PETALING JAYA : Internal disagreements among Perikatan Nasional (PN) leaders over the goods and services tax (GST) may fuel public doubts about the coalition's cohesion and policy direction, according to analysts. Ariff Aizuddin Azlan. Political commentator Ariff Aizuddin Azlan said PN chairman Muhyiddin Yassin's call for the government to reinstate GST at an affordable rate stands in contrast to remarks previously made by Bersatu Youth chief Hilman Idham and PAS information chief Ahmad Fadhli Shaari. Earlier, both Hilman and Fadhli insisted on social media that the opposition was not advocating for the return of GST. Instead, they claimed various government party leaders, including Umno, were the ones calling for its reintroduction, in response to comments made by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim about the sales and service tax (SST). 'Unresolved differences in opinion within PN surrounding the reintroduction of the GST may potentially impair perceptions about the coalition. 'PN will be seen as 'flip-flopping' on such a big matter,' Ariff of Universiti Teknologi Mara told FMT. Mazlan Ali of Universiti Teknologi Malaysia said such contradictions would confuse the public and show that the opposition does not know the country's taxation system well enough. Mazlan Ali. 'It is as if there is no consensus, no unity of opinion within PN,' he said, adding that various problems could arise from the resulting confusion. 'The public will question whether PN is capable of addressing the tax system in its manifesto,' he said, adding that these differences of opinion within the coalition will likely affect its chances at the next general election. Yesterday, Muhyiddin urged the government to engage with stakeholders with a view to reintroducing the GST at a reasonable rate so as not to burden the people. The former prime minister claimed that, unlike the GST implemented by the former Barisan Nasional government in which he served, the SST has had a negative impact on the people and the economy. The GST, introduced on April 1, 2015 at 6% when Najib Razak was prime minister was abolished after Pakatan Harapan (PH) 1.0 led by Dr Mahathir Mohamad wrested control of Putrajaya three years later. Meanwhile, Azmi Hassan of Akademi Nusantara claimed PN was merely harping on the issue for political mileage. He said tax issues are often used by the opposition as a weapon, and were relied on by PH and Bersatu when they toppled the BN government in 2018. 'Tax system issues seem to be a platform for political parties to attack their opponents. PN's actions today are only geared towards deriving political benefits from the matter,' he said.
Malaysiakini
4 days ago
- Politics
- Malaysiakini
Muhyiddin criticises govt's 'Robin Hood' charade
Muhyiddin Yassin has torn the mask off the government's "Robin Hood" masquerade, revealing a seemingly sheriff of Nottingham-style tax raid that will leave the rakyat as financially stretched as mediaeval peasants. The former prime minister accused Putrajaya of donning the legendary outlaw's green hood whilst also wielding the corrupt sheriff's tax collector's purse, in justifying the sales and service tax (SST) expansion.
The Star
4 days ago
- Politics
- The Star
Muhyiddin's case transferred to High Court
Court date: Muhyiddin at the Sessions Court in Kuala Lumpur. — Bernama KUALA LUMPUR: The High Court here has allowed an application by Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin to transfer his case on power abuse and money laundering from the Sessions Court to the High Court. Justice Muhammad Jamil Hussin made the decision after hearing submissions from parties in the case yesterday. 'I have deliberated on the submissions. The applicant has fulfilled the threshold for his case to be transferred and tried at the High Court under Section 417(1)(b) of the Criminal Procedure Code. 'The three legal questions (raised from the charges) are questions of law that are extraordinarily difficult,' he said. Justice Muhammad Jamil said while he has full confidence that the Sessions Court judge has the expertise and knowledge to preside over the case, he felt it was 'more expedient' for the legal questions to be determined by the High Court. 'I hereby allow the application,' the judge said. The court fixed July 14 for case management at the High Court. In the application filed on April 4, Muhyiddin said there were complex legal issues and questions of unusual difficulty that were expected to arise, particularly regarding the constitutionality of several provisions in the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act. According to the Bersatu president, the case in question was of public interest that had attracted the attention of the general public and received extensive media coverage at home and abroad, and it would not cause any prejudice to the prosecution if the application was allowed. On April 27, 2023, Muhyiddin filed an application to transfer the case from the Sessions Court to the High Court, but on July 10 of the same year, he withdrew the application. He made a second application to transfer the case in May this year. Muhyiddin, 77, as the Prime Minister (at the time) and Bersatu president, was charged with four counts of using his position to obtain bribes totalling RM232.5mil in connection with the Jana Wibawa Project from three companies, namely Bukhary Equity Sdn Bhd, Nepturis Sdn Bhd and Mamfor Sdn Bhd, as well as Datuk Azman Yusoff, for the party. He was charged with committing the offence at the Prime Minister's Office, Bangunan Perdana Putra in Putrajaya between March 1, 2020 and Aug 20, 2021. Muhyiddin also faces three charges of receiving proceeds from illegal activities totalling RM200mil from Bukhary Equity Sdn Bhd, which were deposited into Bersatu's Ambank and CIMB Bank accounts. The offence was allegedly committed at separate locations at AmBank, Amcorp Mall branch, Petaling Jaya on Jan 7, 2022 and CIMB Bank, Menara KL branch, Jalan Stesen Sentral, here between Feb 25 and July 16, 2021 and Feb 8 and July 8, 2022.
Malay Mail
5 days ago
- Politics
- Malay Mail
Muhyiddin wins High Court nod to transfer RM232.5m graft and RM200m money laundering case to High Court
KUALA LUMPUR, June 16 — The High Court today allowed Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin's application to transfer his seven charges of abuse of power and receiving funds from unlawful activities from the Sessions Court to the High Court. Justice Datuk Muhammad Jamil Hussin granted the application after hearing submissions from Muhyiddin's counsel, Datuk Hisyam Teh Poh Teik, and deputy public prosecutor (DPP) Datuk Wan Shaharuddin Wan Ladin. 'I have considered the arguments from both parties and find that the applicant has met the threshold under Section 417(1)(b) of the Criminal Procedure Code for the case to be transferred to the High Court. The three questions of law arising from the charges are of exceptional complexity. 'While I have full confidence in the Sessions Court judge's legal competence and ability to conduct the trial, it is more appropriate for the High Court to determine these legal issues,' the judge said. The court then fixed July 14 for case management. Earlier, Hisyam submitted that the application had satisfied the necessary threshold, and there were sufficient merits for the court to exercise its additional powers under Section 12 of the Schedule to the Courts of Judicature Act 1964. 'In the applicant's affidavit in support, (it is stated that) a number of critical questions of law of unusual difficulty are likely to arise in these criminal proceedings, and that for the ends of justice, the case should be transferred to and tried before the High Court,' he said. Hisyam said the first legal issue is whether the learned Sessions Court judge may invoke both statutory presumptions against the applicant, or is limited to relying solely on the presumption under Sections 23(2) and 50(1) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act. 'The second issue is whether, in law, the monies allegedly received by Bersatu constitutes unacceptable gratifications or legitimate political donations, and the third legal issue is whether the word 'organisation' in the context of the MACC Act can be interpreted and construed to also include a political party like Bersatu,' he said. Meanwhile, Wan Shaharuddin submitted that the prosecution had no doubts regarding the competence and capability of the Sessions Court judge to adjudicate all legal issues raised, including those advanced by Muhyiddin in the present application. 'The Sessions Court judge has served on the bench for over 13 years and has nearly three decades of experience in public service. The fact that the applicant is a former Prime Minister does not, by itself, entitle him to choose the court in which his case should be heard,' he said, appearing with DPP Wan Nur Iman Wan Ahmad Afzal. Muhyiddin, 78, who was then prime minister and Bersatu president, was charged with four counts of abuse of power for allegedly soliciting RM232.5 million in bribes for the political party from Bukhary Equity Sdn Bhd, Nepturis Sdn Bhd, Mamfor Sdn Bhd, and Datuk Azman Yusoff in connection with the Jana Wibawa project. He was accused of committing the offence at the Prime Minister's Office, Bangunan Perdana Putra, Federal Government Administration Centre in Putrajaya between March 1, 2020, and August 20, 2021. The Pagoh member of parliament also faces three charges of receiving RM200 million in illegal proceeds from Bukhary Equity Sdn Bhd, which were deposited into Bersatu's Ambank and CIMB Bank accounts. The offence was allegedly committed at AmBank, Amcorp Mall branch, Petaling Jaya on January 7, 2022, and CIMB Bank, Menara KL Branch, Jalan Stesen Sentral, between February 25 and July 16, 2021, and February 8 and July 8, 2022. Meanwhile, speaking to reporters after the proceedings, Wan Shaharuddin said the prosecution will file an appeal against the decision by the High Court today. — Bernama
Barnama
5 days ago
- Politics
- Barnama
High Court Allows Muhyiddin's Application To Transfer Abuse Of Power, Money Laundering Case
KUALA LUMPUR, June 16 (Bernama) -- The High Court today allowed Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin's application to transfer his seven charges of abuse of power and receiving funds from unlawful activities from the Sessions Court to the High Court. Justice Datuk Muhammad Jamil Hussin granted the application after hearing submissions from Muhyiddin's counsel, Datuk Hisyam Teh Poh Teik, and deputy public prosecutor (DPP) Datuk Wan Shaharuddin Wan Ladin. 'I have considered the arguments from both parties and find that the applicant has met the threshold under Section 417(1)(b) of the Criminal Procedure Code for the case to be transferred to the High Court. The three questions of law arising from the charges are of exceptional complexity. 'While I have full confidence in the Sessions Court judge's legal competence and ability to conduct the trial, it is more appropriate for the High Court to determine these legal issues,' the judge said. The court then fixed July 14 for case management. Earlier, Hisyam submitted that the application had satisfied the necessary threshold, and there were sufficient merits for the court to exercise its additional powers under Section 12 of the Schedule to the Courts of Judicature Act 1964. "In the applicant's affidavit in support, (it is stated that) a number of critical questions of law of unusual difficulty are likely to arise in these criminal proceedings, and that for the ends of justice, the case should be transferred to and tried before the High Court," he said. Hisyam said the first legal issue is whether the learned Sessions Court judge may invoke both statutory presumptions against the applicant, or is limited to relying solely on the presumption under Sections 23(2) and 50(1) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act. "The second issue is whether, in law, the monies allegedly received by Bersatu constitutes unacceptable gratifications or legitimate political donations, and the third legal issue is whether the word 'organisation' in the context of the MACC Act can be interpreted and construed to also include a political party like Bersatu," he said.
