Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng has urged the Inland Revenue Board (IRB) to prioritise collecting tax from Penang-born businessman Jho Low and his family instead of other businesses.

"What is worrying is that the IRB in attempting to make up for the tax collection shortfall is carrying out high-handed and arbitrary tax audits on the field that victimises the businesses.

"Whilst there is nothing wrong for such enthusiasm bordering on downright hostile aggression by IRB... Why is there no similar treatment on businessmen such as Jho Low, his father Larry Low or other of his family members?

"The lack of enthusiasm by IRB in demanding payments from Jho Low is unfair and will only lend suspicions of double-standards in tax enforcement," said Lim in a statement today.

Lim said that the IRB had admitted earlier this year that Malaysia's tax collection had dropped for two consecutive years due to falling gas prices and that the businesses were now being hounded to make up for the revenue shortfall.

Previously, doctors who run their clinics in private hospitals have also complained that they were being pursued by the IRB for registering their businesses as Sdn Bhd instead of sole proprietorship.

Given that Jho Low was the subject of investigations by various jurisdictions around the world, in some cases for money laundering, he should be IRB's priority, said Lim.

"Further if Jho Low tax payments are not enough, IRB can always see extra tax payments from those who receive generous donations overseas, especially from those having RM4.2 billion in their personal bank account.

"If IRB refuses to investigate Jho Low and his family or those having RM4.2 billion in their personal bank accounts, then IRB has no right to conduct any tax audits or investigations on ordinary Malaysian businessmen," said Lim.