The Malaysian Insight

OPPOSITION leader Hamzah Zainuddin has denied news reports that his Damansara home was raided by Inland Revenue Board officers (IRB) on Thursday.

The Perikatan Nasional (PN) secretary-general described the news as malicious slander against him and has warned detractors he would act against them, including by lodging police reports.

“The ‘raid’ … what do they mean by that? There has been much slander against me, but I usually ignore them.

“Today I was informed about more slander against me. I had actually drafted my police report, but I’ll save it until an appropriate time,” he told reporters after launching the PN state election machinery in Marang, Terengganu, last night. 

The report said the IRB raid was made following allegations of undeclared income duties.

Citing a source, it said Hamzah was at home during the raid, in which files and documents on accounts and asset ownership were seized.

The report said the IRB did not specify the reason for the raid. 

Hamzah, who is also Larut MP, said he will reveal evidence of the defamation attempts while on the campaign trail for state elections.

“During the election, I will prove what happened was slander to dirty the name of all PN leaders, not just PN chairman Muhyiddin Yassin.”

He said the same is happening to PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang and other PN leaders. 

In May, Hamzah was summoned by the MACC in connection with a case in the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court.

Hamzah in a statement later said it was linked to a suit against businessman Sim Choo Thiam.

Hamzah said the reason he was dragged into the case was to damage his reputation and the good name of Bersatu and PN.

Sim was charged on four counts of soliciting and accepting bribes amounting to RM15 million for a project award from an agency under the Home Ministry in June and July last year, when Hamzah was home minister. – June 17, 2023.