GE15: Umno veteran Shahrir Abdul Samad to sit out polls

PETALING JAYA: Umno veteran Tan Sri Shahrir Abdul Samad says he will not be contesting in the 15th General Election (GE15).

The former Johor Baru MP said although he is not contesting, he will still be leading the Johor Baru Barisan machinery to ensure the coalition's chosen candidate will win in the national polls.

"The answer is simple. I am currently defending my integrity and good name in court.

"It will be unfair to ask the Johor Baru voters to clean my name. I have to clean my name first through the court process.

"That is the reason. But I am still with Barisan," he said in a Facebook post Thursday (Oct 27).

Shahrir, 72, is charged with money laundering by not stating his real income in the income tax return form for the assessment year 2013, which is a violation of Section 113(1)(a) of the Income Tax Act 1967, on the RM1mil, believed to be from unlawful activities, which he received from former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak through a cheque.

He is charged with committing the offence at LHDN, Duta branch, Government Office Complex, Jalan Tuanku Abdul Halim here on April 25, 2014, under Section 4(1)(a) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001, which provides a maximum fine of RM5mil, or imprisonment for up to five years, or both if found guilty.

Shahrir first became Johor Baru MP in 1978 and has defended the seat multiple times in several elections under the Barisan ticket, except for one time when he stood as an independent candidate.

He lost the seat to Pakatan Harapan for the first time in 2018.