THE High Court recently ordered Eric Tan Kim Loong to pay income tax of almost RM68 mil to the Malaysian Government following legal action against Tan by the Inland Revenue Board (IRB).
It was reported that Tan – also known as ‘Fat Eric’ – is 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) scandal allegedly mastermind Low Taek Jho’s right-hand man. Low is popularly known as Jho Low.
Tan is also required to pay 5% interest per annum for every year he does not pay the RM67.9 mil in tax arrears to the Government.
But here’s where it gets a bit strange: What’s the point of ordering Tan to pay such an obscene amount of money when the man himself is nowhere to be found in the first place?
According to news reports, Tan has been at large since 2018, despite the efforts put in to track him down by the Malaysian authorities.
Come to think of it, none of Low’s close associates have been brought to justice in Malaysia for any criminal charges whatsoever. One can just wonder why this is the case.
Even Low himself, who is rumoured to be in Macau, has eluded police capture time and again.
This is despite former Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Tan Sri Hamid Bador’s numerous attempts to capture and bring the fugitive businessman back to Malaysia to face trial for his 1MDB-related crimes. Despite him being listed on Interpol’s Red Notice, Low remains at large to this day.
But back to Eric Tan. It is simply not logical to file tax charges against a man who is already in the wind in the first place. Did Putrajaya expect him to resurface long enough to pay what he owes the Malaysian Government before going back into hiding?
Considering his status as a wanted man, the taxes are likely to remain unpaid, anyway. What will the Government do, then?
In this case, bringing Tan (and all other 1MDB criminals), to justice is the best step going forward, and more must be done to track him down. With all eyes on the country and the 1MDB case, much is at stake here, including Malaysia’s reputation.
The Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) should not rest until justice is served, however long it may take. – May 7, 2021
