KUALA LUMPUR – The Inland Revenue Board (IRB) has frozen accounts belonging to opposition leader Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin, a source close to the matter said.
Speaking to Scoop, a senior Bersatu official confirmed the IRB’s legal action against the party secretary-general and his close family members.
However, when contacted, one of Hamzah’s personal aides eluded queries on the matter, saying that “whatever happened to (Hamzah) has already been reported”.
This development is believed to be a part of an ongoing investigation by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) into Hamzah, who was named in the charge sheet of a RM15 million corruption case involving businessman Datuk Seri Sim Choo Thiam.
In June, his residence in Damansara was raided by IRB officers, who seized several documents.
Subsequently, a Bersatu source was reported as saying that the raid did not lead to any damning evidence against Hamzah.
On August 11, Hamzah issued a letter of demand to the unity government in response to allegations linking him to the corruption case.
Hamzah sent the same letter to the MACC and its chief commissioner, Tan Sri Azam Baki.
In the letter, Hamzah demanded the parties immediately cease and desist from “acting in a partisan political manner”, as civil servants are “sworn protectors of the constitutional rights of the people” and must not violate them.
The letter of demand also included a warning that if such violations persisted, legal proceedings would be initiated to seek compensation for any harm suffered by Hamzah, as well as to protect and restore his reputation.
Regarding the timing of the letter during the campaign period of the recently-concluded state elections, Hamzah explained that he had recently learned about a police report filed by Sim.
“The police report was lodged on June 12, but I was not privy to its contents,” Hamzah said on August 11.
“But I am determined to stand up and speak up when the people want me to fix the wrongdoings happening in the nation.”
Hamzah also alleged that Sim had faced threats of legal action, detention, and psychological pressure in an attempt to force him to implicate the former home minister in the case.
He further argued that he was a victim of “selective political persecution” orchestrated to undermine the reputation of his political party.
Hamzah asserted that his actions were driven by a desire to prevent the “inhumane” government from instilling fear among business leaders, foreign investors, and the public. He emphasised that his goal was to uphold justice within the country and rectify instances he perceived as abuses of power.
On May 10, Sim was formally charged with soliciting RM15 million in June 2021 from Hep Kim Hong, the managing director of Asia Coding Centre Sdn Bhd.
The amount was allegedly offered to secure Hamzah’s support in obtaining projects from the Home Ministry for Hep’s company. – August 23, 2023