Having offshore account not a crime, but tax evasion is

Khairy: Having offshore account not a crime

Anonymous 2362021442199789: Of course, having an offshore account is not by itself a crime. The crime is in the purpose behind why that offshore account was set up.

Many prominent names, including that of Malaysians, will surface over the next few weeks and months as a result of the Panama Papers. Is it any wonder that some prominent Malaysians are getting a mite concerned that the spotlight may soon be shining on them?

By the way, Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin, if I am not mistaken your idol, Lionel Messi, is under investigation for tax evasion – one of the very reasons why some offshore accounts are set up. Hence he may not be such a great example after all.

Jaycee: Indeed, one of the main reasons for people to have offshore accounts is to avoid paying tax. So, Khairy, are you are saying that it is okay to do so; that is, not to pay taxes?

Wira: Keeping an offshore account is of course not a crime.

However, how can the authorities remain blind if a colossal sum of money appears in an offshore bank account of someone who obviously doesn’t have the ability to earn that kind of money, except for the purpose of money laundering.

Do I expect KJ to reply that money laundering is also not a crime in this country?

We are questioning how these people have so much money to put into these offshore accounts. Get it?

SSG: Messi is a professional footballer. He is not a government official on a salary paid from the income tax contributed by the public. Khairy, try not to insult the intelligence of the simple people of Malaysia.

Kudaku Lari: Yes, Messi has been paid well. That is his hard-earned money. He is not a corrupt politician who embezzled public money. That’s the difference.

Drngsc: Agreed. It is not a crime to have money in offshore accounts. But we would like to know how much money is there and where the money came from.

I have been a medical practitioner for 40-plus years, with 30 years in private practice. I know my name is not in the Panama Papers, although I secretly wish I could make it into the list.

Dont Just Talk: Khairy, it is only the rich and the famous who have offshore bank accounts, certainly, not the 90 percent of the poor, hard-working rakyat, who have to take on two honest jobs and pay the six percent GST, despite their financial hardships.

I worked for a top local bank for over 35 years and towards my retirement age, I was paying the maximum 33 percent income tax to LDHN (Inland Revenue Board), but I cannot afford an offshore bank account.

One thing is for sure, the senior government officer with the Youth and Sports Ministry, who siphoned off over RM107 million, will certainly have an offshore bank account.

Justine Gow: There may be nothing wrong with having an offshore account.

However, if one of the sons of a top leader in a country is found having millions of dollars in his bank account, it has to be investigated to determine if the source of money has anything to do with the father.

Whether the account is offshore or not is immaterial. All the more so, if the account is offshore.

KO: Sometimes it is best to zip it and not and try to defend the indefensible.

In public office and in the public eye, the standards to be adhered to, are much higher than the average smuggler who probably also has an offshore account. This country and its people deserve better.

Hopeless: Yes, sometimes I just wish our so-called leaders will keep their mouth shut. There are governance and transparency issues when it comes to public office holders. Public servants have to be seen to be open and transparent, and not hide their income.

Messi is earning millions and the whole world knows about it but we are still wondering where politicians get their money from and stash it away secretly.

Now, do you see the difference, KJ?

Hearty Malaysian: All we ask is transparency of politicians’ wealth while holding public office. Receiving almost US$700 million in ‘donation’ is definitely a big red flag.

Prove our suspicions wrong. Otherwise step aside pending investigation, instead of getting one junior minister telling us it is not a crime to have secret offshore accounts.

GMK: So you think Messi is god and can do no wrong. In this world, the rich will try to get richer and richer by using money to pay the consultants to think off all legal ways to escape paying taxes.

Let’s hope the next US president is Bernie Sanders.

WagtheDog: A Malaysian earning RM100,000 in a year is taxed. But a Malaysian with RM100 million in an offshore account is not.

Anonymous_1391693662: If Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng had an offshore account, only then it would be a crime.

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