The Malaysian Insight

LIFE has been tough for lyricist Loloq’s widow since his death in 2008. The homemaker, with three young children, survives on the lyricist’s royalty payments.

Things have just become harder for Hariah Yaacob, 47, with the Inland Revenue Board (IRB) now chasing after her for unpaid taxes on the royalty payments from her late husband’s work.

Hariah is now selling her house to pay off the outstanding tax within the month as stipulated by IRB.

She said she was shocked to receive a letter from IRB last year, asking her to pay tax for her husband’s royalty.

“I was shocked when IRB said the royalty payment which we receive is taxable.

“I panicked and I’m in the process of selling off my house to pay the tax. I do wonder why they are asking for the tax now, after almost 10 years since my husband’s passing,” she told The Malaysian Insight.

As a single mother, she relied solely on the income from her husband’s royalty payments to survive.

“And when the royalty is taxed, the burden is just too much for us,” she said.

Loloq, whose real name is Rosli Khamis, had been writing lyrics since the age of 20. He was 49 when he died in 2008.

He had also acted in several movies and dramas.

Hariah also questioned IRB’s tax demand from a deceased person.

“The government will have to change the policy as it affects families of artistes who are dead. How can we survive?

“The government should exempt tax from the royalty owner or his next of kin.” – December 25, 2019.