CYBERJAYA: Strong support from the leadership for the efforts of the Inland Revenue Board (LHDN) has led to the ultra rich and those with titles paying their taxes, says Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
The Prime Minister said that this is the first time where this group of people, particularly the nation's top corporate figures, had fulfilled their tax responsibilities.
"As the Prime Minister, I have given strong backing to the efforts by the LHDN, and none of them had directly appealed to me.
"This shows a high level of integrity of the LHDN," he said in his speech when launching the 29th Hari Hasil celebration here on Monday (March 10).
Anwar said the matter should not be taken lightly as it is usual for such corporate figures to resort to seeking help from higher-ups to lessen pressure from the LHDN.
"Usually the LHDN enforcement officers carrying out the their duties will not dare act if they do not get the support from the leadership.
"For example, those with titles such as Tun and Tan Sri, they will contact the higher ups.
"I have never once told the LDHN chief executive officer not to put too much pressure on them or to be selective when discharging their duties," he said.
Earlier in his welcoming speech, LHDN's chief executive officer chief Datuk Dr Abu Tariq Jamaluddin said that better and more focused enforcement on specific industries in 2024 had resulted in LHDN carrying out audits and investigations involving 70,702 cases.
"This has led to increased in tax assessment of nearly RM5.5bil," he said.
