Court removes Anwar, govt as parties in Mukhriz's tax bill suit
KUALA LUMPUR : The High Court has removed Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and the federal government from Mukhriz Mahathir's suit challenging a RM5.02 million tax arrears demand.
Justice Amarjeet Singh allowed an application filed by Anwar, who also serves as finance minister, and the federal government to be excluded from the proceedings, leaving the Inland Revenue Board (LHDN) as the sole respondent.
The court also fixed Dec 16 to hear the judicial review application on an inter partes basis.
Anwar and the federal government had argued that their inclusion in the suit amounted to an abuse of court process, noting that the dispute centred on Mukhriz's tax arrears from 2017 to 2019.
LHDN issued notices to Mukhriz on Sept 27 last year, demanding that he pay RM2.56 million for 2017, RM2.44 million for 2018, and RM16,826.37 for 2019.
However, the court today refused to strike out a statement by Mukhriz alleging that a long-standing feud between Anwar and Mukhriz's father, Dr Mahathir Mohamad, might have contributed to the issuance of the notices.
Mukhriz said that in 2023, Anwar made several adverse public statements about Mahathir, claiming that the former prime minister had enriched his children during his initial tenure in office.
He claimed that the remarks were made to tarnish his father's credibility and as an act of revenge.
A defamation suit brought by Mahathir against Anwar is ongoing in another High Court.
Mukhriz alleges that LHDN miscalculated his tax liability.
The former Kedah menteri besar wants the court to quash the notices issued to him for the 2017, 2018 and 2019 years of assessment.
He secured leave to bring the judicial review proceedings in January this year.
Mukhriz is represented by lawyer Syed Afiq Syed Albakri while senior federal counsel Nur Irmawatie Daud appeared for Anwar and the federal government.
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