No more raids by gun-wielding, balaclava officers to collect tax, Lim assures defaulters

KUALA LUMPUR: The controversial National Revenue Recovery Enforcement Team (NRRET) has been abolished, says Lim Guan Eng.

The Finance Minister said the Attorney General has given him the confirmation that the powerful NRRET will no longer be in operation.

“The NRRET was established to collect money by force, they wielded guns like AK47 and officers wore balaclavas to raid the homes of regular businessmen,” Lim said during his opening speech at the Inland Revenue Boards' National Tax Seminar 2018 on Tuesday (Nov 13).

He said the Government will collect tax arrears from defaulters according to the rule of law, via lawyers and the courts.

“Don’t worry, no one will raid your homes with guns or balaclava masks to collect tax,” he added.

The NRRET, which was set up in 2015, was made up of personnel from the Attorney General's Chambers, the police, Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission, Bank Negara, Inland Revenue Department, Customs Department and the Companies Commission of Malaysia, among others.

It dealt with cases such as tax evasion by individuals and corporate bodies, the illegal outflow of funds, and acts of corruption.