Former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad today lamented that he had to face routine raids from the Inland Revenue Board (LHDN) when he was a practising doctor but super rich ministers today get off scott-free.
"Government officials who live beyond their means are normally probed by LHDN.
"But when ministers or public individuals are known to live overly wealthy lifestyles, no investigation is conducted," he said in a blog posting today.
Mahathir said even he did not have such a privilege when he ran a clinic.
"I myself have routinely faced raids by LHDN when I had a clinic. I was forced to pay additional taxes and all my attempts to explain myself was not accepted.
"They said if I were to be brought to court, I will likely be fined three folds.
"The investigation on me was based on the assumption that as a public doctor, I would surely be rich and not pay taxes in full," said Mahathir.
Bias in criminal investigations
Likewise, Mahathir said people who lodged police report against 1MDB over the alleged disappearance of funds are not only made bankrupts, but have become money laundering suspects.
He said this in an apparent reference to sacked Batu Kawan Umno vice chairperson Khairuddin Abu Hassan ( photo ), who had said that Mahathir is his mentor.
"People who made police reports are bankrupted, their house confiscated, and get investigated for supposedly funding terrorism and money laundering," said Mahathir.
Mahathir also accused government authorities of being bias in criminal investigations.
"It is saddening that bias can be seen in criminal investigation. Today, Malaysia is already listed as the top ten countries where corruption is widespread.
"Malaysians are subjected to the same law. Don't be biased or discriminate in law enforcement," he said.
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