GEORGE TOWN: Since Penangites paid more income tax than forecasted, Inland Revenue Board (LHDN) needs to buck up on its tax collection in other states, says Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
This comes after Penang surpassed the Finance Ministry’s target for the first quarter this year.
“Penang in the first quarter recorded an income tax amount more than projected.
“So I urge LHDN in other states to work harder to ensure there is no leak or omissions,” he told reporters after opening Penang’s new LHDN office in Lebuh Sungai Pinang yesterday.
He added that the board needed to be stringent as it is the responsibility of every taxpayer to pay their dues.
LHDN chief executive officer Datuk Dr Abu Tariq Jamaluddin in his speech said Penang collected 101.86% more tax compared with the Finance Ministry’s target for this first quarter.
“As of May 31, RM3.542bil in tax was collected in Penang,” he said.
“With this momentum, we will achieve collecting Penang’s annual target of RM8.099bil in tax.”
LHDN in Penang was established in 1949 and among several locations, it operated the longest for 40 years at the Penang Malay Chamber of Commerce in Lebuh Pantai.
In November last year, it moved to the new building.
Abu Tariq said the new 20-storey building obtained a 86% score from Construction Research Institute of Malaysia, the highest rating in Penang.
“This rating was given based on the Construction Industry Development Board’s Quality Assessment System for Building Construction Works, which measured and evaluated the quality of construction work based on the Construction Industry Building,” he said.
